Inpex secures exploration block near Ichthys field

Japan’s Inpex, the operator of the Ichthys LNG export plant, has secured an exploration block located near the Ichthys gas and condensate field offshore Western Australia.

Inpex Browse, a unit of Inpex, was awarded the exploration permit over release area AC22-1, now named AC/P71 in Australia’s 2022 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release.

According to a statement, Inpex Browse will be the operator and hold 100 perccnt working interest in the title.

Moreover, the block is located off the northern coast of Western Australia and covers a surface area of about 920 square kilometers, in water depths ranging between about 100 and 300 meters.

Inpex Browse will pursue exploration activities as per the title obligations.

Inpex secures exploration block near Ichthys field
Image: Inpex

Inpex said the block is adjacent to the AC/RL7 retention lease in which the company acquired a 74 percent participating interest in 2023 and where natural gas and condensate fields have been discovered.

The block is therefore, considered to be in a “promising” exploration area, the firm said.

Inpex said the block is located to the north of and in the general vicinity of the Ichthys gas and condensate field, which supplies natural gas to the Ichthys LNG project.

“Therefore, success in this exploration permit will contribute to enhancing the project’s resilience,” the firm added.

Inpex has shipped 66 LNG cargoes from its Ichthys export plant in Australia during the first half of this year, one cargo more compared to the same period last year.

Besides the 66 LNG cargoes, the Ichthys project also sent 12 plant condensate cargoes, 16 offshore condensate cargoes, and 17 LPG cargoes during the first half of this year.

Most Popular

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG to commission fourth tank

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to commission the fourth storage tank with LNG at its Plaquemines plant in Louisiana.

Worley gets full notice to proceed on first phase of CP2 LNG project

Australian engineering firm Worley has received a full notice to proceed from US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG under its reimbursable EPC contract for the first phase of the CP2 LNG project in Louisiana.

US FERC issues final SEIS for NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released a final supplemental environmental impact statement for NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG facility and the accompanying pipeline in Texas. FERC continues to conclude that approval of the projects would result in "less than significant impacts."

More News Like This

Inpex pens preliminary Abadi LNG deals with Indonesian firms

A unit of Japan's Inpex has signed preliminary agreements with Indonesian firms regarding the planned Abadi LNG project in Indonesia.

Inpex: Ichthys terminal sent 30 LNG cargoes in Q1

Japan’s Inpex has shipped 30 LNG cargoes from its Ichthys export plant in Australia during the January-March period of this year, four fewer than in the same period in 2024.

Inpex says Ichthys LNG production temporarily reduced

The Inpex-operated Ichthys LNG export plant in Australia is currently producing at a reduced rate, according to Inpex.

Inpex still expects to launch Abadi LNG FEED in mid-2025

Japan's Inpex still expects to launch the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the planned Abadi LNG project in Indonesia in mid-2025, a spokesman for Inpex told LNG Prime on Wednesday.