The massive Browse liquefied natural gas project off Australia is to use floating LNG technology, the project’s partners have confirmed.
Engineering and design work on the project is now set to kick off next year after Shell, BP, PetroChina, Mitsubishi and Mitsui backed the favouried option of Woodside Petroleum in the project.
The project partners chose the FLNG option, which is set to cost around $46billion, over a proposed onshore development on the western Australian coast which would have cost up to $80billion.
“The basis of design phase will determine the major design parameters for front end engineering and design of the proposed subsea and FLNG facilities and associated infrastructure,” Woodside said in a statement.
“The BOD phase will be executed by Woodside as operator of the Browse Joint Venture, with support from Shell as the FLNG technology provider, to enable the optimal development of the Browse resources.
“Work will commence immediately to undertake all of the necessary studies and work required to place the Browse Joint Venture participants in a position to consider the commencement of FEED for the selected development concept in 2014.”
READ MORE
Infographic: Introduction to floating liquefied natural gas
The Australian government has backed the floating LNG approach, which will use Shell’s own technology. Shell are also developing the Prelude floating LNG scheme off Australia, which is due to start production in 2017.
A final decision on funding for the project, which will use floaters to tap the field’s 15.9trillion cubic feet of gas and more than 400million condensate barrels, is planned for 2015.
Recommended for you
