Woodside will use FLNG scheme to develop Browse basin fields

Woodside Energy Ltd., Perth, will recommend a floating LNG (FLNG) scheme to develop the three Browse gas fields Torosa, Brecknock, and Calliance, which lie off Western Australia about 264 miles north of Broome. The company said the concept will use Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s FLNG technology.

Selection of FLNG as the development concept requires approval of the Browse joint venture participants before moving to the design phase. Browse participants include Woodside as operator, Shell Development (Australia) Pty. Ltd., BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd., Japan Australia LNG (MIMI Browse) Pty. Ltd., and PetroChina International Investment (Australia) Pty.

The company announcement said its decision follows evaluation of “alternative development concepts” for Browse after announcement in April not to proceed with the onshore gas processing development at James Price Point (OGJ Online, May 3, 2013).

Coincidental with the company’s announcement was the decision handed down on Aug. 19 by Western Australia’s chief justice invalidating three of the state environmental approvals for the planned James Price Point natural gas processing hub.