While the oil major would not reveal how many jobs would go, a spokesman said the transition from building to operating the LNG projects would "result in a significant reduction in overall workforce over the coming years".

"This is the natural evolution of our business as we ramp up to build major capital projects and ramp down to become an efficient operator," the spokesman said.

"As we transition, we are undertaking a review to have the right skills and competencies in place to meet our future operations requirements."

However, the weakness in oil prices - which is already triggering wage freezes and salary cuts in the industry - will also give Chevron more incentive to reduce workforce costs.

A recent memo from Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski to staff confirmed that some contracts would be unexpectedly terminated.

"During this period, we will be reviewing all permanent and temporary positions with the aim of having the right skills and competencies in place to meet our future requirements," Krzywosinski said.

"This will result in some targeted redundancies and early termination of contracts.

"What this specifically means for each department will vary and your management team member or supervisor will be providing further details in due course."

While Chevron's circa 4000-plus workforce is expected to half once the two LNG projects enter the operations phase, this will also force an estimated 8000 construction and contract workers to find new jobs.

The cost blowout-prone $A68.7 billion Gorgon project is already more than 90% built and scheduled to start LNG exports by late 2015, while the Wheatstone project is expected to start exporting in late 2016.

As of the last update two weeks ago, remaining steps for Gorgon include receiving fuel gas for plant commissioning, starting up the gas turbine generators, starting up the first LNG train and associated tank storage and exporting the first LNG cargo and beginning the domestic gas export commitments.

While there is scope for an expansion to the 15.6 million tonnes per annum LNG capacity which is being developed for the Gorgon project, the oil price tumble is likely to put such a move on the backburner.

On a lighter note, Chevron is still recruiting and training "operations personnel" to work at Gorgon and Wheatstone.

Chevron is also continuing to recruit for the construction workforce of its Wheatstone project which is 57% complete.

Recent analysis by Macquarie Wealth Management concluded that the Wheatstone project would significantly benefit from the underway and "much anticipated pull-back" in the Australian dollar.