Monday, January 7, 2008
Woodside says may have to delay LNG shipments
7 January 2008
Reuters News
SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Woodside Petroleum Ltd , Australia's second-largest oil and gas producer, said it may have to delay deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, after an electrical outage last week halted output at its gas plant.
LNG operations at the Karratha plant in Western Australia restarted on Sunday, after they were halted last Wednesday, and production is being progressively ramped up, Woodside spokeswoman Kirsten Stoney said on Tuesday.
"We are working closely with customers to agree to a revised delivery schedule and minimise any impact. We anticipate there will be a deferral of LNG output as a result of the outage but its too early to determine the exact volume," Stoney said.
The Karratha gas plant is part of the North West Shelf venture, the country's largest LNG project, and provides over 60 percent of the state's gas supply.
Domestic gas production resumed on Friday.
Woodside's Karratha plant produces about 12 million tonnes of LNG each year and delivers about 50 LNG cargoes each quarter to customers in Japan, South Korea and China.
Stoney said the shutdown would not materially affect Woodside's 2008 production forecast.
The Perth-based company in November estimated 2008 production to be between 80-86 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
