Woodside secures key Australian approvals for Scarborough gas project

Offshore staff

PERTH, Australia – Woodside Energy and its partners have received approvals from the Commonwealth-Western Australian Joint Authority to support execution of the Scarborough gas development offshore Western Australia.

One concerns a license to construct and operate the Scarborough pipeline in Commonwealth waters. The field development plan has also secured approval, which enables Woodside (as operator) to start petroleum recovery operations from Petroleum Production Licenses WA-61-L and WA-62-L.

The milestones follow final investment decisions taken last November 2021 to proceed with the $12- billion Scarborough and associated Pluto Train 2 LNG developments.

Scarborough gas processed through Train 2 will be one of the lowest carbon intensity sources of LNG delivered to clients in north Asia, Woodside added, as the reservoir contains only 0.1% carbon dioxide (CO2).

The Scarborough field, 375 km (233 m) offshore Western Australia, contains an estimated 11.1 tcf of dry gas. Development will include installation of a floating production unit with eight wells in the initial phase and thirteen wells to be drilled over the life of the field.

Gas will be transported through a new 430-km (267-mi) pipeline to Pluto LNG.

McDermott is responsible for the FPU; the Subsea Integration Alliance for the subsea hardware, risers and flowlines; Valaris for drilling; Europipe for the trunkline pipe; and Saipem for the trunkline installation.

Woodside has contracted MMA Offshore to support offshore field development drilling for the Scarborough project over a firm 350-day period.

Operations are due to start in 2Q 2023, with the platform supply vessel MMA due to undergo dry-docking prior to joining the campaign.

4/6/2022