Australian LNG player Woodside has selected Bechtel as the preferred execution contractor for the proposed expansion of its Pluto liquefied natural gas facility in Western Australia.
Woodside said on Tuesday it will continue to work with Bechtel in preparation for the award of the contract for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase.
Activities will include continuing to refine the concept and costs, Woodside said.
The FEED contract award will also include the option for the full execute phase contract, subject to a positive final investment decision.
Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said expanding the Pluto LNG facility is key to realizing the company’s vision for the Burrup Hub.
“Expanding Pluto LNG will provide the necessary infrastructure to commercialize Western Australian gas resources for years to come,” he said.
Woodside is proposing a brownfield expansion of the Pluto LNG facility, including construction of a second LNG train with a targeted capacity of 4–5 Mtpa, to facilitate the development of the 7.3 Tcf Scarborough gas resource.
Woodside is targeting FEED entry in Q1 2019 and a final investment decision in 2020, with Train 2 targeted to be ready for start-up in 2024.
These targets are subject to all necessary joint venture approvals, regulatory approvals and/or appropriate commercial arrangements being finalized.