Chevron has pitched its idea of shared development of Australia’s offshore oil and gas resources to strengthen the country’s position as a natural gas supplier.
The company has called for industrial collaboration to maximise the potential of the country’s resources and acquire more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Carnarvon and the North-West Shelf to improve domestic gas supplies.
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Speaking at the APPEA Conference, Chevron Australia managing director Nigel Hearne proposed the development of as a multi-user, open access offshore pipeline known as Trans Carnarvon Basin Trunkline (TCT) that creates a truly ‘interconnected basin’.
He said that the TCT will offer the ability to connect remote accumulations such as Scarborough, Thebe and the Exmouth fields to existing gas facilities such as the North-West Shelf, Pluto and Wheatstone.
Hearne said: “We have a once-in-a-generation strategic opportunity to most effectively open up new gas resources and deliver energy security and greater economic benefits.
“By collaborating, we will drive efficiencies, optimise the resource, bring valuable domestic gas to market and put downward pressure on those domestic gas prices.
“The interconnected basin vision, which involves a gas gathering system underpinned by shared infrastructure with system-wide optimisation, is the best and most responsible way of developing our resources.”
The collaboration between industry players will help fulfil challenges such as keeping 11 LNG trains at full capacity over the next 30 years, ensuring enough gas supplies to the domestic gas market and improving the competitiveness of the Australian export industry.
In addition, the shared approach to the development of the resources, with support from governments, is expected to drive efficiencies and minimise duplication of infrastructure.
Chevron has recently announced its decision to proceed with the expansion of Gorgon’s subsea gas gathering network to ensure a steady supply for the Gorgon natural gas plant.
