US-based energy giant Chevron has temporarily suspended production at the Gorgon LNG project’s second liquefaction train.
“Production at Gorgon Train 2 is being temporarily suspended for a planned turnaround to enhance the train’s reliability in alignment with previously arranged strategies,” Chevron’s spokesman told LNG World News in an emailed statement.
The spokesman added that the “turnaround will allow for modification works to improve the capacity and reliability of a key flow measuring device on the train.”
The $54 billion Gorgon LNG project, that has experienced several production interruptions since it shipped its first cargo on March 21, last year, is also expected to produce first liquefied natural gas from the third liquefaction train by the end of this month.
“The remainder of the plant production continues to be steady,” the spokesman said without revealing when the turnaround would be completed.
Last week, Chevron said its Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island has shipped 50 cargoes since the start-up in March last year, however, due to the current market conditions, the company’s two Australian LNG projects, Gorgon and Wheatstone are unlikely to be expanded.
The Gorgon LNG project will have a shipment capacity of 15.6 million mt/year once all three trains have ramped up to full production.
Gorgon is operated by Chevron that owns a 47.3 percent stake, while other shareholders are ExxonMobil (25 percent), Shell (25 percent), Osaka Gas (1.25 percent), Tokyo Gas (1 percent) and Chubu Electric Power (0.417 percent).
LNG World News Staff