The company has said that construction of the foundations of the Pluto Gas Project, located on the Burrup Peninsula, was reported to be 82 per cent complete, with first gas expected from the field in late 2010. First LNG is expected from the onshore processing plant in early 2011, with the field anticipated to achieve capacity production in mid-2011.

Phase one exploration drilling of at least 20 wells is underway in the greater Pluto area, located in the offshore Carnarvon Basin. One of these wells, Eris-1, has hit a 60 m gross gas column.

Woodside has also announced that a final investment decision on the Browse LNG Project is expected by early 2011. The Western Australian Government is currently completing a strategic assessment of the precinct. The initial development concept for Browse involves offshore facilities and two LNG processing trains, each with a capacity of 7 million tonnes per annum (MMt/a).

The $5 billion North Rankin 2 (NR2) Project, located near Karratha, was reported to be 37 per cent completed, with first gas to be produced in mid-2012, and full capacity operation anticipated in the first quarter of 2013. NR2 will involve the installation of a second 23,600 t platform at the North Rankin field, which will stand in approximately 125 m of water and include gas compression facilities, utilities and new living quarters.

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The Greater Western Flank Gas Development on the NWS is currently undergoing predevelopment studies, with a view to concept selection and front-end engineering and design in 2010. The Greater Western Flank refers to a group of 14 undeveloped fields west of Goodwyn. The project will target approximately 3 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves to supply the NWS LNG Plant.