The partners Angel is required to meet the NWS's current gas contracts and future gas sales from 2008.
Operator Woodside Energy said the partners were expected to consider final approval of the Angel development in the second half of 2005, in line with a Q4 2008 start-up. A decision would be taken at that time whether to extend the contract with the Eos Joint Venture into an engineering, procurement and construction management contract.
The project has also been referred for environmental impact assessment and remains subject to government approvals.
“The Angel project represents another major step in development of the North West Shelf and will involve the installation of our third fixed gas production facility,” said Woodside director of North West Shelf Ventures, Jack Hamilton.
“Angel will significantly boost our offshore production capabilities and ensure we continue to provide reliable, long-term gas supplies to our domestic and international customers,” Hamilton said.
The Angel gas-condensate field is in about 80 metres of water, 49 kilometres east of the North Rankin platform.
The Eos Joint Venture contract will refine the engineering for a remotely operated processing platform with three sub-sea wells, according to Woddside. Hydrocarbons will be produced through one processing train capable of producing 800 million standard cubic feet of gas a day and 50,000 barrels of condensate a day.
The gas and condensate will be sent from Angel via a new pipeline connected to one of the existing 135km offshore trunklines to the North West Shelf Venture’s onshore gas plant, near Karratha.
The six equal participants in the Angel Project are: Woodside Energy Ltd (operator); BHP Billiton (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd; BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd; ChevronTexaco Australia Pty Ltd; Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd; and Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited.
CNOOC NWS Private Limited is also a member of the North West Shelf Venture but does not have an interest in North West Shelf Venture infrastructure.
