Woodside advises that the Browse Joint Venture has selected the Western Australian Government’s Browse LNG Precinct at James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, as the location to process gas from the  ventures Browse Basin gas fields. This decision satisfies a condition of retention leases WA-28-R, WA-29-R, WA-30-R, WA-31-R, WA-32-R, TR/5 and R 2 to select a development concept within 120 days, effective 2 December 2009.

The Browse LNG Development has now completed the development concept phase. The next phase of the development will be Basis of Design, followed by Front End Engineering and Design in 2011 to enable a Final Investment Decision by mid-2012. This material work program to mid-2012 requires an expenditure of $1.25 billion. A Final Investment Decision for the development will be subject to necessary approvals and consents.

Browse LNG Development

Browse is a world-scale development which forms part of Woodside’s LNG strategy. The Browse gas fields include the Torosa, Brecknock, and Calliance discoveries which are located 425 km north-west of Broome, Western Australia. The fields contain a combined contingent resource of about 14 trillion cubic feet of dry gas and 370 million barrels of condensate (as at 31 December 2008).

Since 2002, Woodside, as Operator, and its Browse joint venturers have evaluated several options for the location of the development’s LNG processing facilities. This evaluation has involved environment, social, technical and economic studies and consultation with Traditional Owners, conservation groups, business and industry organisations, community groups and all tiers of government.

Following the evaluation process, two options were under consideration. These were the State Government’s proposed LNG precinct in the James Price Point coastal area in the Kimberley or existing Woodside-operated facilities located near Karratha.

Joint venturers: Woodside Energy (operator), BHP Billiton (North West Shelf), BP Developments Australia, Chevron Australia, Shell Development Australia.

Source: Woodside