Pluto LNG Terminal

Summary Information

• Ownership: Woodside 90% (operator); Tokyo Gas 5%; Kansai Electric 5%
• Website: http://www.woodside.com.au
• Location: Burrup Peninsula, Western Australia
• Capacity: 4.3 million tons/annum (first Train)
• Status: In operation

Brief Description

• Pluto LNG processes gas from the offshore Pluto Gas Field and Xena gas fields in Western Australia. Gas is piped through a 180 km trunkline to a single onshore LNG-processing train
• The facility also supplies the domestic market, through a connection to the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline
• In 2021, Woodside reached final investment decision for an expansion project through the construction of a second gas processing train. Pluto Train 2 would have a capacity of about 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa)

Technical Details

• Storage capacity: two LNG tanks with a combined capacity of 120,000 m³, three smaller condensate tanks
• Constructor: Phase 1
  • Foster Wheeler: Engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm)
  • **Freyssinet:** Post-tensioning of LNG tanks
  • **AusGroup:**
    • Mechanical works associated with the installation of structural steel and process piping, installation of mechanical equipment, pre-assembled pipe racks, modules and structures, testing of pipework and associated activities.
    • Construction of an Effluent Treatment Plant
    • Onshore painting and insulation
• Expansion
  • **Foster Wheeler / WorleyParsons:** Front-end engineering design (FEED)
• Licensor:

Ongoing Projects/Project Status

• An expansion project, Pluto LNG Phase II Project is underway.
• It will add 8.0m tpa of LNG capacity and commissioning is expected in 2026

Suppliers / Customers

• Suppliers:
  • Woodside's Pluto Gas Field and Xena Gas Field
  • They are estimated to contain 4.6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of dry gas reserves and an additional 0.5 Tcf of contingent resources.
• Customers:
  • The project has 15 year sales contracts for up to 3.75 mtpa with foundation customers and partners Kansai Electric and Tokyo Gas
  • Woodside has an agreement for the sale of up to 19 cargoes to Asean LNG Trading Co. Ltd (ALTCO), a subsidiary of Petronas International Corporation Ltd
  • Chubu Electric: Approximately 1.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over a three year period, from 2014

History

• 2005 - Gas discovered
• 2007 - Pluto project approved
• 2007 - Foster Wheeler/Worley Parsons awarded EPC contract for Train 1
• 2008 - JBIC awards a US$1 billion loan to the project
• 2009 - Foster Wheeler/Worley Parsons awarded FEED contract for Train 2 & 3
• 2011 - Woodside signed an LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement with Asean LNG Trading Co. Ltd (ALTCO), a subsidiary of Petronas International Corporation Ltd, for the supply of uncommitted cargoes
• 2011 - A significant milestone for the Pluto LNG Project was achieved on Sunday, 6 March 2011 as gas from the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline was introduced to the Pluto onshore plant
• 2012 - The project reached ready for start up (RFSU) status and first gas has entered the processing train
• 2012 - Production starts
• 2014 - Sales agreement with Chubu Electric
• 2018 - FEED awarded for expansion
• 2018 - Pipeline supplying the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline is commisioned
• 2022 - Construction begins for phase 2

Other Information

• Construction quality issues led to a 6 month delay in commissioning
• The project has the potential to expand to 5 trains. These may include processing facilities for third party gas.

Links

1. Pluto Webpage
2. Project Fact Sheet
3. Woodside Increases Equity In Pluto Central Hub Exploration Permit
4. The Pluto Foundation Project is 95% complete
5. Freyssinet LNG Tank References
6. Foster Wheeler Awarded EPCm Contract for LNG Project in Australia
7. Foster Wheeler Joint Venture with WorleyParsons Awarded Feed Contract for Pluto LNG Expansion
8. KBR Receives Award for Woodside's Pluto Train 2 and Train 3 LNG Project
9. AusGroup Awarded AUD$120 million Contract for LNG Project
10. AusGroup Awarded Additional Contracts for Pluto LNG Project
11. AusGroup Awarded AU$34 Million Contract
12. Woodside - Sale of Pluto Uncommitted Cargoes
13. Countdown to Pluto Start Up Begins
14. Woodside Discovers Gas at Xeres-1
15. Woodside, Pluto LNG Cost and Schedule Update
16. JBIC Loan for Australian LNG Project to Ensure Stable Natural Gas Supply to Japan
17. Pluto-LNG-Project-Achieves-Ready-for-Start-Up
18. Pluto Begins LNG Production
19. Woodside Signs Sales Agreement With Chubu Electric
20. Sembcorp Marine to Support Bechtel in the Construction of Gas Processing Train for Pluto Train 2 Project
21. Pluto Train 2 LNG project to deliver economic benefits for Western Australia