Support services
The North West Shelf Venture has nine dedicated ships for exporting liquefied natural gas from Australia to international markets.
Since deliveries started in 1989, the venture has safely delivered 2000 LNG cargoes.
The LNG ships are powered by their own cargo with gas vapour produced in storage tanks on board used to run steam turbines.
With one LNG ship arriving about every two-and-a-half days, four tugs and a pilot vessel service these and the condensate and LPG ships that dock at the Karratha gas plant's Withnell Bay terminal.
Woodside's the King Bay Supply Base, 2km south of the onshore gas plant, comprises marine facilities, warehousing and workshops to provide logistical support for our shipping and offshore drilling and production operations.
Three supply vessels support offshore operations. Each of the 2000 tonne plus supply vessels carries large payloads of supplies and equipment for the offshore facilities, supports underwater remotely operated vehicles used for a wide range of inspection, maintenance and repair, and can be used for fire-fighting and rescue operations.
Woodside contracts helicopter services for 24-hour access to offshore facilities on the North West Shelf a fleet of Sikorsky S76 A+ helicopters, which carry up to 10 passengers, and AS332L Super Pumas, which carry up to 18. The service moves about 1100 passengers every month.
