First Modules Arrive For Scarborough Energy Project

The first three Pluto Train 2 modules for the Scarborough Energy Project have arrived in Karratha, Western Australia, marking a significant milestone for the project. The modules, fabricated by Bechtel in Indonesia, weigh a combined total of more than 4,000 metric tonnes. The modules are three of a total of 51 that will be shipped to site from the module yard to form Pluto Train 2. 

Pluto Train 2 will be the second Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production train at the existing Pluto LNG onshore facility and will process gas from the offshore Scarborough development. The Scarborough Energy Project will contribute significantly to the Australian economy and create thousands of job opportunities during its construction phase. 

Bechtel was selected by Woodside Energy to execute the engineering, procurement and construction of Pluto Train 2, with construction activities beginning in November 2021. Pluto Train 2 will have an LNG processing capacity of approximately 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). Additional domestic gas infrastructure will be installed at the Pluto LNG facility to increase domestic gas capacity to approximately 225 Terajoules per day. Up to 3 Mtpa of LNG will be processed at the existing Pluto Train 1 following modifications to accommodate Scarborough’s lean gas. 

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said the delivery of the first Pluto Train 2 module was a key milestone towards the delivery of the Scarborough Energy Project, which will help meet the growing demand for the low-cost, lower-carbon, reliable energy the world needs today and into the future. “The safe and timely arrival of the module is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Woodside team and our lead contractor Bechtel. “With the Scarborough Energy Project sitting at more than 55% complete, we are making significant progress across all scopes of work and look forward to receiving the remaining modules on site throughout 2024,” she said. 

"This achievement exemplifies our unwavering commitment to safety, quality and collaboration," said Paul Marsden, President of Bechtel Energy. "Fuelled by the passion to deliver excellence and foster sustainable practices, we are creating a lasting impact on the communities where we live and work. Our teams of extraordinary people, leveraging our global experience in delivering LNG projects, are instrumental in supporting the quality execution of the work on Pluto Train 2.” 

The Scarborough Energy Project is targeting first LNG cargo in 2026.

TechnipFMC Awarded Substantial iEPCI™ Contract for Sparta Project

TechnipFMC (NYSE: FTI) has been awarded a substantial(1) contract by Shell plc (FTSE: SHEL) (AMS: SHELL) (NYSE: SHEL) for the first integrated Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (iEPCI™) project to use high-pressure subsea production systems rated up to 20,000 psi (20K).

The Company will manufacture and install subsea production systems, umbilicals, risers, and flowlines for Shell’s Sparta development in the Gulf of Mexico. The tree systems will be Shell’s first to be qualified for 20K applications and are engineered to meet the high-pressure requirements of this greenfield development.

Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC, commented: “Sparta will combine our leading-edge subsea technology with our proven integrated execution model, iEPCI™, providing improved project economics. We are excited to be working with Shell on 20K technology.”

Nigeria: Production commences at the Akpo West field

TotalEnergies and its partners announce the start of production from the Akpo West field on the PML2 license in Nigeria.

Located 135 kilometers off the coast, Akpo West is tied back to the existing Akpo Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, which started-up in 2009 and produced 124,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2023. By mid-2024, Akpo West will add 14,000 barrels of condensate production per day, to be followed by up to 4 million cubic meters of gas per day by 2028.

The Akpo West development leverages the existing Akpo facilities to keep costs low and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The project’s carbon intensity is expected to be below 5 kg CO2e/boe and will contribute to reduce the average carbon intensity of TotalEnergies’ portfolio.

“After Ikike in 2022, TotalEnergies is pleased to start production of another tie-back project in Nigeria, Akpo West, which will contribute to maintaining the production of the existing Akpo facilities by developing additional nearby resources. This project fits the Company’s strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects”, said Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa, Exploration and Production at TotalEnergies. “This project leverages TotalEnergies’ solid footprint in Nigeria and will quickly bring value to the country, TotalEnergies and its partners.”

TotalEnergies is the operator of PML2 with a 24% interest, in partnership with CNOOC (45%), Sapetro (15%), Prime 130 (16%) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd as the concessionaire of the PSC.