Shell has started production from the world’s largest floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility.
The energy giant said wells have been opened at the Prelude FLNG platform, around 295miles north-north east off the coast of Broome, Western Australia.
It will now enter the initial phase of production with gas and condensate – and ultra-light form of crude oil – being produced and moved through the facility.
Prelude is expected to have an annual production capacity of 3.6million tonnes of LNG, 1.3million tonnes of condensate and 400,000 tonnes a year of liquefied petroleum gas.
LNG is a massive industry for Australia and has seen a wave of huge projects sanctioned by energy majors in the last decade.
Inpex’ Ichthys development is the latest export project to be started-up.
Australia overtook Qatar as the world’s largest LNG exporter in November.