LNG production starts from Wheatstone train two

15 June 2018 

Chevron Australia today announced the start of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from the second train at the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project located 12 kilometres west of Onslow in Western Australia.

Chevron Australia Managing Director Nigel Hearne said Chevron Australia is now the proud operator of a five train LNG business and Australia’s largest liquefaction owner with access to a world class natural gas resource base off the coast of Western Australia.

“With the Chevron-operated Wheatstone and Gorgon LNG facilities now operational, we are delivering a significant new source of energy for customers in the region, as well as contributing to significant levels of investment into the Australian economy,” said Hearne.

Development of the Wheatstone and Gorgon Projects has seen more than $60 billion committed to Australian goods and services, around 1000 contracts awarded to Australian companies and almost 19,000 workers employed.

Hearne added, “first LNG production from Wheatstone train two is another remarkable achievement and is testament to the collaboration of our partners, customers, contractors, governments, community, and the many thousands of people who worked to deliver this legacy asset. Working closely with our customers, we are committed to be a safe and reliable natural gas supplier for decades to come.”

Wheatstone is expected to produce 8.9 MTPA over an estimated 30 years of operation. The domestic gas plant is progressing well and is due online later in the year.

Fast facts:

• The Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project is a joint venture between Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (64.14 percent), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) (13.4 percent), Woodside Petroleum Limited (13 percent), and Kyushu Electric Power Company (1.46 percent), together with PE Wheatstone Pty Ltd, part owned by JERA (8 percent).
• Wheatstone first LNG production was announced on 9 October, 2017 with first LNG cargo sailing away on 31 October 2017.
• The Wheatstone Project is Australia’s first third-party natural gas hub enabling future development of the vast natural gas resources offshore Western Australia.
• At full capacity, the Wheatstone Project’s two train LNG plant is expected to contribute around six percent of the Asia Pacific region’s total future LNG production, delivering 8.9 MTPA of LNG for export to customers in Asia.
• Through its interest in Wheatstone, Gorgon and the North-West Shelf Project in Western Australia, Chevron is Australia’s largest liquefaction infrastructure owner with 15.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) production capacity.
• A single Chevron cargo of LNG from the Wheatstone Project could power Japan for approximately 9 hours.
• Recognised for environment excellence and an innovative solution to reducing environment impacts, the Wheatstone micro-tunnel creates a shore-crossing for the 225km gas pipeline that starts behind the coastal dune system and terminates under the ocean floor.
• More than $250 million has been contributed to social and critical infrastructure projects in Onslow, which include upgrading community facilities, education and health services, roads, and power and water infrastructure.