First Phase of Development

The first phase of commercial development of the North West Shelf began in 1980 with the construction of the North West Shelf Venture’s onshore domestic gas plant in Karratha and a jetty for the loading of LNG and condensate.

Construction of the North Rankin A offshore production platform and the 135 km subsea pipeline to shore also formed part of the first phase of development, which followed agreement with the Western Australian government for 20-year gas supply contracts and government funding of the 1600 km Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline.

In 1984 the North West Shelf Venture began delivering natural gas to Western Australia and today remains the State’s largest single producer of domestic gas, currently responsible for about 65 per cent of total production.