Approved for development in July 2007, the Pluto LNG Project will process gas from the Pluto and Xena gas fields, located about 190km north-west of Karratha in Western Australia, into LNG and condensate.

 

The Pluto and Xena gas fields are estimated to contain 4.6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of dry gas reserves and an additional 0.5 Tcf of contingent resources.

 

The initial phase of the Pluto LNG Project comprises an offshore platform in 85 m of water, connected to five subsea wells on the Pluto gas field.

 

Gas will be piped in a 180 km trunkline to the onshore facility, located between the North West Shelf Venture and Dampier Port on the Burrup Peninsula.

 

The total area of the Pluto leases for the onshore facility is about 200 ha, of which the plant and associated infrastructure will cover about 80 ha.

 

Onshore infrastructure comprises a single LNG processing train with a forecast production capacity of 4.3 million tonnes a year. The LNG train is being built in Thailand and shipped to site in 264 modules and supporting structures.

 

Storage and loading facilities at the plant include two LNG tanks with a combined capacity of 120,000 m³, three smaller condensate tanks and an LNG and condensate export jetty.

 

With approvals in place for LNG and pipeline gas expansion, the Pluto LNG Project has been designed to aggregate gas from the Carnarvon Basin.

 

In 2010 the project is transitioning from construction to the commissioning phase in preparation for first gas from the field by the end of the year. Woodside’s vision for the Pluto site is for an expansion of up to five LNG trains and a pipeline gas plant. In November 2009, Woodside awarded dual Frontend Engineering Design (FEED) contracts for Pluto Train 2 and Train 3. Gas supply for expansion continues to be focused on Woodside equity gas, both discovered and through ongoing exploration.