A company spokesperson told EnergyNewsBulletin a field development plan for the 8.9 million tonne per annum two train project had been presented to government for approval.

No other details were released, but the company needs state and federal environmental approval before it is able to proceed to FID.

Earlier this week Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski told a breakfast in Perth the Wheatstone project would soon step out into the light as a major capital project in its own right.

"I'm pleased to say that Wheatstone is entering the final stages of approvals and we aim to start construction later this year," he said.

"Wheatstone will generate about 6500 direct and indirect jobs at peak construction and about $21 billion in government revenue."

The project is expected to cost about $30 billion to develop and will take gas from Chevron's wholly owned Wheatstone field, which straddles WA-17-R and WA-253-P, as well as the Iago field that spans WA-17-R and WA-16-R of which Shell Development owns a one-third share.

The project will also take gas from Apache Energy and Kufpec Australia's Julimar and Brunello fields under a deal that gives the two companies a 13% and 7% equity stake in the Wheatstone facilities respectively.

First LNG shipments are expected by 2016.