The 130 kilometre trunkline, currently under construction, will link the Venture's offshore gas production and onshore gas processing facilities, near Karratha in Western Australia.

The contract involves the quarrying, processing, delivery and stockpiling of more than 400,000 cubic metres of rock.

The rock will be quarried from a lease held by the Dampier Port Authority.

BGC has extensive experience with the North West Shelf LNG expansion project, having undertaken the site preparation works for LNG Train 4, now under construction, and the site preparation works for the second trunkline's onshore receiving terminal. The total value of both contracts is more than A$40 million.

"The award of this contract to BGC provides another major boost to local contractors," said Offshore Projects General Manager Roy Thompson.

"Karratha has become an important work centre for BGC through its involvement with the North West Shelf and the company has increased its operations and workforce accordingly."

The A$800m second trunkline project is an integral part of current expansion of the Venture's gas production and liquefaction facilities, which includes the construction of a fourth LNG processing train and associated infrastructure.

The A$1.6 billion fourth train, which has a capacity of 4.2 million tonnes of LNG a year, will boost North West Shelf LNG production to nearly 12 mtpa.

The second trunkline project is scheduled for completion in April 2004 to coincide with completion of Train 4. First LNG production from Train 4 is scheduled for mid-2004.

The six equal participants in the North West Shelf Venture are: Woodside Energy Ltd. (operator); BHP Billiton Petroleum (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.