Woodside has chosen Bechtel as the preferred execution contractor for the expansion of its Pluto LNG facility in Western Australia.
Image: Woodside selects Bechtel as preferred contractor for Pluto LNG Train 2. Photo courtesy of suwatpo/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Woodside said that it will continue work closely with Bechtel in preparation for award of the contract for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase of the expansion project.
Subject to a positive final investment decision on the Pluto LNG expansion, the FEED contract award will also include an option for the full execute phase contract.
Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said that the expansion project is key to realising the company’s vision for the Burrup Hub.
Woodside is targeting FEED entry for the Pluto LNG expansion in the first quarter of 2019. With a final investment decision in 2020, the Pluto LNG Train 2 is targeted to be ready for production in 2024.
Coleman said: “Expanding Pluto LNG will provide the necessary infrastructure to commercialise Western Australian gas resources for years to come.
“We look forward to progressing Train 2 concept definition work and continuing to build our relationship with Bechtel.”
The targets set for the project are subject to all necessary joint venture approvals, regulatory approvals and/or finalization of appropriate commercial arrangements.
The proposed brownfield expansion of the Pluto LNG facility is aimed at facilitating development of the 7.3 Tcf Scarborough gas resource. The expansion includes construction of a second LNG train with a targeted capacity of 4–5 Mtpa.
Discovered in 1979, Scarborough is located off the coast of Western Australia approximately 220km northwest of Exmouth in 900 metres of water. The field is one of the most remote of the Carnarvon Basin gas resources.
In Novermber 2016, Woodside had completed the acquisition of half of Scarborough area assets from BHP Billiton.
The Scarborough area assets will include gas fields in Scarborough, Jupiter and Thebe, where an estimated amount of 8.7 trillion cubic feet of gas resources are present at 2C confidence level.
In February, Woodside said that it would raise A$2.5bn ($1.96bn) to additional purchase stake in Scarborough gas field.