Australian LNG player Woodside said that the Scarborough joint venture has received key primary approvals to support execution of the Scarborough project.
Woodside and JV partner BHP Petroleum won the approvals from the Commonwealth-Western Australian Joint Authority.
According to a statement by Woodside on Wednesday, the Scarborough JV has received an offer for the pipeline license to construct and operate the Scarborough pipeline in Commonwealth waters.
In addition, the Scarborough Field Development Plan (FDP) received approval as well, enabling Woodside to start petroleum recovery operations from licenses WA-61-L and WA-62-L.
These approvals follow final investment decisions made in November 2021 for the $12 billion Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 developments.
Besides the second train, the FID also includes new domestic gas facilities and modifications to the first Pluto 4.9 mtpa train on Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula.
Pluto Train 2 will process gas from the Scarborough offshore gas resource and have a capacity of about 5 mtpa.
Also, the train will get gas from the gas field, located about 375 km off the coast of Western Australia, through a new trunkline long about 430 km.
Following completion of works, Woodside expects to ship first LNG cargo in 2025.
CEO Meg O’Neill said the pipeline license and field development plan are among the final primary government approvals required to develop the Scarborough resource.
“The Scarborough reservoir contains only 0.1 percent carbon dioxide, and Scarborough gas processed through the efficient and expanded Pluto LNG facility supports the decarbonization goals of our customers in Asia,” she said.