First modules arrive in Australia for Woodside-operated Scarborough project

The first three Pluto Train 2 modules for the Woodside Energy-operated Scarborough project have arrived in Karratha, Western Australia.

The Scarborough project comprises Scarborough field and associated offshore and subsea infrastructure. The field lies in Carnarvon basin about 375 km off the coast of Western Australia and is estimated to contain more than 11 tcf of dry gas.

Development includes installation of a floating production unit (FPU) with eight wells drilled in the initial phase and 13 wells drilled over the life of the field. Gas will be transported for processing at the Pluto LNG plant on the Burrup Peninsula, where Woodside is currently constructing Pluto Train 2, through a new 430-km trunkline.

LNG train modules

The newly arrived modules, fabricated by Bechtel in Indonesia, weigh a combined total of more than 4,000 tonnes. The modules are the first of a total of 51 that will be shipped to site from the module yard to form Pluto Train 2.

The 5 million tonnes/year (tpy) Pluto Train 2 will be the second LNG production train at the existing Pluto LNG onshore plant and will process gas from the offshore Scarborough development. Up to 3 million tpy of LNG will be processed at the existing Pluto Train 1 following modifications to accommodate Scarborough’s lean gas.

Additional domestic gas infrastructure will be installed at the Pluto LNG plant to increase domestic gas capacity to about 225 terajoules/day for an initial period of 20 years.

Bechtel Corp. was selected by Woodside to execute the engineering, procurement, and construction of Pluto Train 2, with construction activities beginning in November 2021 (OGJ Online, Jan. 7, 2019; Dec. 17, 2021; Aug. 24, 2022).

Woodside chief executive officer Meg O’Neill said the project is more than 55% complete, and that the remaining modules are expected to be delivered throughout 2024.

First LNG cargo is targeted for 2026.