Gas processing from the offshore Pluto fields has started ahead of schedule at the North West Shelf Project’s (NWS) Karratha Gas Plant (KGP), operator Woodside claimed.
This accelerated production was enabled by the start-up of the Pluto-KGP Interconnector (Interconnector) a 3.2 km pipeline, which connects Pluto LNG with KGP.
The Interconnector start up also supports the accelerated production of gas from the first phase of Pluto’s Pyxis Hub by enabling it to be processed at KGP. Ready for start-up was achieved for the first phase of Pyxis Hub in October, 2021.
KGP is expected to process around 2.5 mill tonnes of LNG, plus domestic gas from Pluto from 2022 to 2025.
Woodside CEO, Meg O’Neill explained; “The start-up of the Pluto-KGP Interconnector provides access to spare capacity at Karratha Gas Plant to process gas owned by other resource owners, both onshore and offshore Western Australia. The commencement of Pluto gas flowing through the Interconnector is the first example of this.
“The processing of gas from the offshore Pluto fields through Karratha Gas Plant enables Woodside to deliver additional LNG cargoes into the international gas market. The commercial agreements underpinning third-party gas processing at the North West Shelf reflect the commitment of Woodside and the North West Shelf Project to maximising value from the significant infrastructure on the Burrup Peninsula,” she said.
The Pluto-KGP Interconnector pipeline was constructed and is operated by AGI Operations Pty Limited.
In addition, Woodside, as operator for and on behalf of the Scarborough Joint Venture, recently received key primary approvals from the Commonwealth-Western Australian Joint Authority to support the execution of the Scarborough Project.
This milestone follows a final investment decision (FID) made in November, 2021 to approve the $12 bill (100%, $6.9 bill Woodside share) Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 developments.
Scarborough gas processed through Pluto Train 2 will be one of the lowest carbon intensity sources of LNG delivered to customers in north Asia, with the first LNG cargo targeted for 2026.
