Australian LNG player Woodside has begun expansion studies for its Pluto liquefied natural gas export plant in Western Australia.
Woodside’s Chief Executive Peter Coleman said in February this year that the company was planning further capacity enhancements and mid-scale or large-scale expansion at the 4.9 mtpa Pluto LNG plant.
In its first-quarter report issued on Thursday, Woodside revealed that expansion studies have started with an initial focus on developing and accelerating reserves within the Greater Pluto region, where the project’s offshore gas field is located.
“Contractors experienced in small to mid-scale LNG train technology have been engaged to develop concept options for consideration by mid-year,” Woodside said in the report.
Currently, the natural gas from the offshore Pluto gas field is being piped through a 180 km trunkline to a single onshore processing train in the Burrup LNG Park, located between the North West Shelf Venture and Dampier Port.
Coleman noted earlier that Pluto is expandable for at least one conventional LNG train from existing natural gas resources.
Pluto produced 1.01 million mt of LNG during the first quarter of this year, as compared to 1.09 million mt in the comparable quarter in 2016.
“Pluto production was approximately 5% lower than expected, a positive outcome given the significant weather impacts experienced during the quarter,” Woodside said.
LNG World News Staff