APLNG 2nd train starts production

ConocoPhilips-operated Australia Pacific LNG project said Monday it had produced the equivalent of a cargo of liquefied natural gas from the second train at its facility on Curtis Island near Gladstone.

Australia Pacific LNG CEO, Page Maxson, said the second train had produced 150,000 cubic metres of LNG, equivalent to the volume required to fill an LNG ship.

“The second train is up and running, enabling our LNG facility on Curtis Island to deliver commercial quantities of LNG at sustained output from both trains.”

“As the largest producer of natural gas in eastern Australia, we are underpinned by a world-class coal seam gas resources position. We currently provide approximately 25 percent of domestic gas to the east coast market, with sufficient reserves to meet both LNG and domestic demand,” Maxson said.

With the commencement of train two operations, approximately 200TJ/day of equity gas that was previously directed to the QGC sales contract will become available to Australia Pacific LNG.

Australia Pacific LNG said it recently successfully completed the 120-day operational test period relating to the first train at the LNG facility. This is the critical test set forth in the
project financing completion agreements. The completion of all tests for the first train is expected in coming weeks.

LNG production from Australia Pacific LNG’s first train began in December 2015 and the first LNG cargo was exported in January 2016.To date Australia Pacific LNG has loaded a total of 47 cargoes.

At full capacity, the A$25 billion (US$17 billion) LNG project will be producing 9 mtpa of the chilled fuel.

Australia Pacific LNG is a joint venture between Origin (37.5%), ConocoPhillips (37.5%) and Sinopec (25%).