Western Gas partners with Pluto LNG and North West Shelf for Equus gas processing

Australia’s Western Gas has signed separate nonbinding agreements with Pluto LNG and the North West Shelf Project participants for the processing of 2-3 Mtpa of Equus gas from 2027 utilising Woodside-operated infrastructure.

The agreements outline the key terms and process for undertaking the participants’ joint technical studies and negotiating, as well as finalising fully termed agreements for the processing of Equus gas.

Woodside Burrup is the manager and operator of Pluto LNG (90%), and other participants are Kansai Electric Power Australia (5%) and Tokyo Gas Pluto (5%).

The North West Shelf Project participants are Woodside (Operator; 33.33%), BP Developments Australia (16.67%), Chevron Australia (16.67%), Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) (16.67%), and Shell Australia (16.67%).

According to Woodside, it is proposed that Equus gas would be produced on a floating production storage and offloading facility, and then transported through an approximately 200 km pipeline to the Pluto LNG facility. In addition, it is proposed that prior to capacity being available in Pluto Train 1, the Equus gas be transported via the Pluto-KGP Interconnector for processing and export at the Karratha Gas Plant (KGP), with processing and export via Pluto Train 1 to commence once processing capacity becomes available.

Woodside said the first LNG for the gas processing opportunity is targeted in 2027, with a target aggregate production of 2-3 Mtpa of LNG and 50-75 TJ/d of domestic gas.

Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill said that by leveraging existing infrastructure, Woodside would enable Western Gas to access a competitive option to supply Asian LNG markets while providing additional domestic gas security for Western Australia.

“This is an important step in maximising the utilisation of our existing infrastructure to deliver domestic gas and LNG to local and global customers and value for our shareholders and community. The proposed gas processing opportunity with Western Gas for the Equus offshore resource demonstrates the flexibility provided by the Pluto-KGP Interconnector, which commenced operations in March 2022, to optimise available capacity at our world-class facilities,” said O’Neill.

Follow Offshore Energy’s Clean Fuel on social media: