The massive North Rankin A platform is one of the largest capacity gas production platforms in the world and serves as the central hub of the North West Shelf Venture’s offshore gas production system.

Located 135 km north-west of Karratha, North Rankin A stands in 125 m of water at a total height of 215 m and combines drilling, production, utilities and accommodation facilities. The 54,000 tonne production facility is supported on a conventional eight-leg steel jacket, secured to the seabed by 32 piles, which allows the structure to support its operating load and withstand cyclone conditions. 

North Rankin A produces gas and condensate from the North Rankin and Perseus fields and currently has 29 production wells – 22 intersecting the North Rankin field and seven intersecting the Perseus field.

The platform has a daily production capacity of up to 51,000 tonnes of gas and 5,400 tonnes of condensate, with dry gas and condensate transported via a trunkline system to the Karratha Gas Plant for processing.

In March 2008 the North West Shelf Venture approved funding for the North Rankin Redevelopment Project which will access additional recoverable reserves by recovering remaining low pressure gas from the North Rankin and Perseus gas fields, and extend the field life to around 2040.

The project involves the installation of a second platform – North Rankin B – which will be connected by a 100 metre bridge to the existing North Rankin A platform. North Rankin B is scheduled for start-up in 2013 and on completion both platforms will be operated as a single integrated facility known as the North Rankin hub. The redevelopment scope also includes the necessary tie-ins and refurbishment of the North Rankin A platform.