The award of the engineering, procurement and construction management contract is subject to final investment approval of the project by the North West Shelf partners.

The Phase 5 scope includes an LNG train with a capacity of 4.2 million tonnes a year with other related expansion work. Approval is planned for the first half of 2005, in line with a Q4 2008 start-up.

Significant site works and civil engineering works were already been completed when Train 4 was being constructed.

The partners are Woodside Energy (16.67%) BHP Billiton (North West Shelf) (16.67%); BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%); ChevronTexaco Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%); Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) (16.67%); and Shell Development Australia (16.67%).

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.