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any countries strive to be an energy superpower. From a single project in 1989,
Australia has achieved this status and is now set to become the world’s largest
exporter of LNG, with 10 projects and close to 100 million tpy of LNG production
coming online at a value of AUS$70 billion. With a diverse range of project configurations
and future possibilities, the country’s LNG transformation has been extraordinary.
Diverse and innovative
Broadly, Australia taps into two different gas resources using four different LNG project
configurations. InWestern Australia (WA) and the Northern Territory (NT), gas is extracted
principally from offshore fields, and transported to shore where it is treated and liquefied
(NorthWest Shelf Gas – BHP Billiton, BP, Chevron, Japan Australia LNG,
Shell, Woodside; Darwin LNG – ConocoPhillips; Pluto LNG –Woodside;
Gorgon – Chevron; andWheatstone – Chevron).
Geoffrey Cann, Deloitte, Australia,
outlines the critical challenges for
Australia as it readies itself to become
the leading exporter of LNG.
