WATCH: $12.5B gas project closing in on first LNG cargo as 10-storey module comes to Australia

September 2, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Australia’s energy giant Woodside has confirmed the arrival of the final and heaviest module for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project upgrade, emphasizing that a 10-story, 4,500-ton structure marks another step toward the first LNG cargo from its $12.5 billion gas project in the fourth quarter of 2026.

While announcing that the last and heaviest module for Pluto LNG’s Train 1 (T1) modifications project in Karratha was delivered to the site in Western Australia, Woodside said the arrival put an end to four years of planning, fabrication and shipping.

The modifications project involves upgrading Pluto LNG’s T1 facility to process gas from the Scarborough field, described as a key part of the Scarborough energy project, which was 98% complete at the end of the second quarter of 2026 and is on track for first LNG cargo in Q4 2026.

View on Offshore-energy.

The final module, standing as tall as a 10-storey building and weighing about 4,500 tons, is perceived to be one of the heaviest ever delivered to the Pilbara. The story of this module began in London, where the planning included its front-end design, while fabrication was conducted over two years in Thailand.

Fiachra Gleeson, Construction Manager, stated: “Every part of the route – from bridges, drainage, above- and below-ground services plus foundations – was analysed in detail to ensure the path of the module didn’t clash with anything along the way.

“Seeing that final module arrive and knowing what it took to get it here is something everyone involved should be proud of. This has been a massive One Team effort.”

With the module in its final position, the focus has shifted to installation, hook-up and integration with Pluto Train 1. This comes months after the Scarborough floating production unit (FPU) completed hook-up of the umbilical and all subsea risers and began topside commissioning, following its arrival in Australia.

Once operational, Scarborough will help support energy security in Western Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, with the project expected to produce enough energy to power more than 8.5 million homes for more than 30 years.

Woodside underlined: “Such a massive module required a big workforce: the engineering, procurement and construction management contractor, some 2,000 site workers, 10 Woodsiders and assistance from our Australia-based employees all played important parts.

“The team delivered three fully integrated modules containing thousands of tonnes of structural steel, extensive piping and complex equipment. Shipping the final module across almost 2,500 nautical miles to its final destination was no easy feat, either.”