Australia: Pre-FEED Contracts Awarded for Bonaparte LNG

GDF SUEZ Bonaparte, operator of the Bonaparte LNG project, has awarded the contracts for pre‐Front End Engineering and Design (pre‐FEED), to Granherne (upstream) and DORIS Engineering (midstream), two of the world’s leading engineering and energy project management consultancies.

The awarding of the contracts is the first major milestone since GDF SUEZ (60%) and Santos (40%) entered into a joint venture in August 2009 to develop a floating liquefaction project in the Bonaparte Basin, in the Timor Sea, 250 kilometres west of the northern Australian city of Darwin.

The project aims to produce 2 million tonnes of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) per annum, using the natural gas from the Petrel, Tern and Frigate fields.

The final investment decision for the project is expected in 2014, with LNG production scheduled to start in 2018.

GDF SUEZ Bonaparte General Manager Jean‐François Letellier said: “This is a key phase for Bonaparte LNG and we are delighted to have contractors with the experience and expertise of Granherne and DORIS Engineering with our team to help refine the right and innovative concept to bring the natural gas from stranded fields to the Asia‐Pacific market, a high growth and high demand market for LNG”.

Santos Vice President WA & NT, John Anderson, said Bonaparte LNG was one of four LNG projects in the Santos portfolio which together have the potential to deliver material growth in Santos’ equity LNG production by 2020: “This growth is predicated on discovered resources and, in the case of Bonaparte LNG, drawing on the many years of experience in the LNG business of our joint venture partner, GDF SUEZ,” he said.

Granherne is a leading front‐end engineering consultancy for onshore, offshore and deep water oil and gas developments with experience of over 3,000 projects in more than 20 countries. The project will be managed by Granherne’s Asia‐Pacific regional office in Perth.

DORIS Engineering are experts in the field of engineering for the offshore oil and gas industry, with more than 40 years of experience in the offshore industry, creating innovative and cost‐effective solutions for the most challenging environments, including remote locations. Based in Paris, DORIS has offices in the UK, USA, Brazil, Indonesia and Angola.

About GDF SUEZ

GDF SUEZ develops its businesses around a model based on responsible growth to take up today’s major energy and environmental challenges: meeting energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximizing the use of resources. The Group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas‐supply sources, flexible and low‐emission power generation as well as unique expertise in four key sectors: liquefied natural gas, energy efficiency services, independent power production and environmental services. GDF SUEZ employs 200,650 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €79.9 billion in 2009. The Group is listed on the Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Stoxx 50, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, ASPI Eurozone and ECPI Ethical Index EMU.

About Santos

An Australian energy pioneer since 1954, Santos is one of the country’s leading gas producers, supplying Australian and Asian customers. Today, Santos is the largest producer of natural gas for the Australian domestic market. Santos has developed major oil and liquids businesses in Australia and operates in all mainland Australian states and the Northern Territory. It also has interests in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and the Kyrgyz Republic. Its LNG portfolio includes the GLNG project, the sanctioned PNG LNG project, the producing Darwin LNG project, and Bonaparte LNG.

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Source: Santos, January 10, 2010;