By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 10 -- North West Shelf LNG Venture participants approved a $1.58 billion expansion that will add a fifth liquefaction train and associated infrastructure to the LNG complex at Karratha, 1,100 km north of Perth, Western Australia.
The Phase V expansion will add the 4.2-million-tonne/year liquefaction train, a fractionation unit, an acid gas recovery unit, a boil-off gas compressor, two gas turbine power generation units, a second loading berth, and a fuel gas system compressor to existing facilities. The train is expected to start up in fourth quarter 2008.
"As a result of this decision, the North West Shelf Venture will have effectively doubled its export capacity in less than 4 years with annual LNG production expected to be 15.9 million tonnes/year from late 2008," said John Banner, president of North West Shelf Australia LNG.
Woodside Energy Ltd., representing Australia's North West Shelf LNG Venture, let a contract to Foster Wheeler (WA) Pty. Ltd. for the engineering, procurement, and construction management for the project. It previously had issued a letter of intent (OGJ Online, Mar. 7, 2005).
The six equal North West Shelf Venture participants are operator Woodside, BHP Billiton (North West Shelf) Pty. Ltd., BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd., ChevronTexaco Australia Pty. Ltd., Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty. Ltd., and Shell Development (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
CNOOC NWS Pvt. Ltd. is a member of the North West Shelf Venture but holds no interest in North West Shelf Venture infrastructure.