Our Story - Woodside Energy

Woodside is the pioneer of the LNG industry in Australia and the largest Australian natural gas producer.

We have a global portfolio and are recognised for our world-class capabilities as an integrated upstream supplier of energy.

We have a clear strategy to deliver superior shareholder returns across three distinct time horizons, characterised by cash generation from 2017, unlocking value from 2022, and repeating our successes from 2027.

We are delivering on our strategy, creating an integrated LNG production centre on the Burrup Peninsula. Building on more than 30 years of operations in Western Australia, we are progressing development of the Scarborough and Browse gas resources through our producing assets, the Woodside-operated Pluto LNG and North West Shelf (NWS) Project.

Our operated assets are renowned for their safety, reliability and efficiency and we have a strong track record in project development. As Australia's premier LNG operator, we produce 6% of global LNG supply. We operate two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities. We also have a participating interest in Wheatstone LNG, which started production in 2017.

We have overcome some incredible challenges to be where we are today. Now, we draw on our pioneering spirit as we embrace the opportunities ahead.

Across our oil and gas portfolio, we have significant equity interests in high-quality development opportunities in Senegal (SNE), Myanmar, Canada (Kitimat) and Timor-Leste / Australia (Sunrise). We are pursuing new concepts and technology to enable cost-effective commercialisation of these resources. We have a renewed exploration plan with a more focused and opportunistic approach across established, emerging and future growth hubs in Australia, Myanmar, Senegal, Gabon, Peru and Bulgaria.

We continue to expand our capabilities in marketing, trading and shipping and have enduring relationships that span 30 years with foundation customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Technology and innovation are essential to our long-term sustainability. Today we are pioneering remote support and the application of artificial intelligence, embedding advanced analytics across our operations while recognising digital security issues. We are working to improve our energy efficiency and to support the use of LNG as a low-emissions and economically viable fuel.

Woodside demonstrates strong safety and environmental performance in all its operations. We are committed to upholding our values of integrity, respect, discipline, excellence, working sustainably and working together. Our success is driven by our people, and we aim to attract, develop and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce.

We recognise that enduring, meaningful relationships with communities are fundamental to maintaining our licence to operate. We actively seek to build relationships with stakeholders who are interested in and affected by our activities. We help create stronger communities through programs that improve knowledge, build resilience and create shared opportunities.

Our proven track record and distinctive capabilities are underpinned by almost 65 years of experience, making us a partner of choice.

More about our strategy

Exploration interests

A history of achievement

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1954

Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Co. NL is registered and adopts the name of the town of Woodside in Victoria, Australia which is close to its oil leases.

1956

Woodside secured the first offshore exploration license to be granted in Victoria: a 2600sqkm stretch off Ninety Mile Beach that extended 2km into Bass Strait, off southern Australia.

1957

Woodside drills to world-record water depths in the Bass Strait off southern Australia.

1963

Woodside pays £100 for a permit to explore 370,000km2 off the Western Australian coast, resulting in the formation of the original North West Shelf Venture between the Burmah Oil Company of Australia, Shell Development Australia and Woodside.

1968 - Drillers at work on the Glamor Tasman

1964

The first aeromagnetic surveys are conducted over the North West Shelf.

1968

Woodside finds first oil at the Legendre field on the North West Shelf.

1971

Woodside makes major gas and condensate discoveries at Scott Reef, north of Broome, and at North Rankin and Angel, north of Karratha on the North West Shelf.

1972

The Goodwyn gas and condensate field is discovered, west of North Rankin on the North West Shelf. The North West Shelf fields provided the basis of the A$19 billion North West Shelf Project, then Australia's largest resource project.

1973

Woodside discovers the Lambert oil fields on the North West Shelf.

1974

The Sunrise and Troubadour gas fields are discovered in the Timor Sea, north-west of Darwin.

1977

Woodside Executive Director Ric Charlton and WA Premier Sir Charles Court announce agreement on key terms and conditions for the North West Shelf Project.

1979

State and Commonwealth governments give environmental approval for the commencement of the North West Shelf Gas Project. The Brecknock gas and condensate field is discovered adjacent to Scott Reef.

1980

The North West Shelf Project participants sign the contracts for the long-term supply of gas to Western Australian customers. Construction starts at the onshore plant on the Burrup Peninsula, North Rankin A platform and the 134 km subsea pipeline to shore.

1984

First gas is received onshore via the subsea trunkline from the North Rankin platform. North Rankin A is the world's largest fixed leg platform.

1985

The North West Shelf Joint Venturers sign the formal liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales agreement with eight Japanese gas and power companies. Construction starts on the first two LNG processing trains, storage tanks and loading facilities at the Karratha onshore gas plant.

1988

Woodside cements its Perth presence by opening a new purpose-built office at 1 Adelaide Terrace.

1989

The first LNG cargo from the North West Shelf Project arrives in Tokyo, Japan on board The Northwest Sanderling.

1990

The Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project discovers the Cossack oil field and the Yodel gas and condensate field.

1992

The Western Legend, one of the world's most sophisticated sesimic vessels of the day, began what was the biggest 3D seismic program ever undertaken in Australia.

1994

Woodside discovers the Laminaria oil field in the Timor Sea.

1999

The Laminaria field produces its first oil through the Northern Endeavour FPSO vessel. Woodside discovers the Enfield oil field in Western Australia. The North West Shelf Project delivers its 1000th LNG cargo to Japan.

2000

The long-running negotiations with the Japanese LNG Buyers for a major expansion of the (NWS) LNG project accelerated towards a successful conclusion in late 2000 when the first of several Letters of Intent were signed with existing customers.

2001

Woodside builds a venture capital vehicle to invest in early stage green technologies.

2002

The Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project wins a 25-year contract to supply LNG to China.

2004

Woodside moves into new headquarters at 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

2005

Woodside discovers the Pluto gas field in the north-west of Western Australia.

2006

The Nganhurra FPSO (Enfield) begins production.

2007

Construction commences on Pluto LNG.

2008

2008 Woodside starts production from the fifth LNG processing train at the Karratha onshore gas plant. Production starts from the fifth LNG processing train at the Karratha. The Ngujima-Yin FPSO (Vincent) begins production.

2009

The Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project commissions the Angel gas platform. Pluto LNG commissions the Woodside Donaldson LNG vessel.

2011

The Okha FPSO is commissioned for the North West Shelf Project, replacing the Cossack Pioneer.

2012

Woodside’s Pluto LNG begins production and delivers its first cargo to Japan. The North West Shelf Project delivers its 3500th LNG cargo.

2013

The North Rankin Redevelopment Project achieves start-up, with a second facility installed alongside the existing North Rankin A platform on the North West Shelf. Pluto LNG commissions the Woodside Rogers LNG vessel.

2014

Woodside celebrates its 60th anniversary. The North West Shelf Project marks 30 years of domestic gas production and 25 years of LNG exports.

2015

Woodside Closes Purchase of Apache Interests in Kitimat Asset - Canada

Woodside - Mia Yellagonga-41 [Image by Jarrad Seng]

2018

Woodside moves to our state-of-the-art new headquarters, including a 31-storey office tower with campus-style facilities, close to the Swan River and Kings Park.

Purpose & Strategy

Our vision is to deliver superior shareholder returns by becoming a global leader in upstream oil and gas.

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Burrup Hub

Our vision is bold but simple: bringing new resources through our existing facilities in Australia's north-west. Providing ongoing employment and local content opportunities for decades into the future, building on what Woodside has created over the last 30 years.

Climate Change

The climate is changing, and it's up to all of us to respond. Woodside is committed to being part of the solution.

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Innovation

From the first LNG plant in the southern hemisphere, to the world’s largest not-normally crewed offshore platform, Woodside has long been a leader in applying oil and gas technologies.