Name and Location
Scarborough floating liquid natural gas (FLNG) production facility, Australia.

Client
BHP Billiton and ExxonMobil, the parent company of the Esso, Mobil and ExxonMobil companies in Australia.

Project Description
BHP Billiton and ExxonMobil propose to develop the Scarborough gasfield through the installation and operation of an FLNG facility and associated subsea infrastructure.

The project will include drilling and the installation of about 12 production wells that will be tied back to the FLNG facility through subsea flowlines and risers.

The facility is expected to be about 495 m long and 75 m wide and will combine the requirements for gas treatment, liquefaction and the storage and transfer of LNG to carriers for delivery to market.

The FLNG facility will be towed and permanently moored in the WA-1-R location, in the Carnarvon basin, off the coast of Western Australia, about 220 km north-west in waters about 900 m to 970 m deep. The associated infrastructure will be located in the same location.

An estimated eight- to ten-trillion cubic feet of lean gas will be developed from the Scarborough field, with no measurable quantity of condensate.

The Scarborough gasfield has an expected production life of 25 to 35 years.

Value
$10-billion.

Duration
A final investment decision is expected during 2014/15.

The current field development plan includes two phases of development drilling, with an estimated seven wells to be drilled between 2018 and 2019 (Phase 1) and about five wells to be drilled within 15 years following project start-up (Phase 2). Following Phase 1 drilling, offshore installation and commissioning will occur between 2019 and 2020, with start-up expected in 2020/21.

Latest Developments
BHP Billiton and ExxonMobil have submitted plans for the FLNG facility to Australia’s federal environment department.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Esso Australia, tel +61 3 9270 3333.