"We've completed almost all of the construction required for initial production, and LNG plant commissioning is progressing strongly," Santos vice president downstream GLNG Rod Duke said.
"Santos GLNG is over 90% complete and on track for first LNG in the second half of 2015."
Various plant subsystems have been commissioned including emergency electric power generation, power distribution and switchboards, instrument air, nitrogen, diesel supply, water systems, inlet gas separation and filtration.
The plant's flare also fired up for the first time upon receiving gas on Friday, according to local press.
Santos said it made the following project progress last year:
- Drilled 119 wells and achieved better than expected gas flow rates;
- Completed building all major gas field processing facilities;
- Completed its 420-kilometre pipeline, including a 4.3-kilometre undersea pipeline tunnel;
- Installed the last of the 111 modules that make up its two LNG processing trains;
- Hydrotested both of its massive LNG storage tanks;
- Built its 400-metre-long LNG loading jetty; and
- Conducted more than 1700 community and landholder meetings.
The two-train GLNG project is targeting 7.8 million tonnes per annum of LNG export capacity. Macquarie Wealth Management has forecasted first LNG from the project to occur late in the September quarter.
