A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Australia is one step closer to completion this week after natural gas was introduced into the two-train facility for the first time.
Santos GLNG said that the gas will fire the first gas turbine generator to be used for high-voltage power generation.
The plant is being constructed on Queensland's Curtis Island.
Rod Duke, Santos vice president for downstream GLNG, said that contractors had completed almost all of the construction required for initial production and that commissioning of the LNG plant was "progressing strongly".
Commissioning has been completed for plant subsystems including emergency electric power generation, power distribution and switchboards, instrument air, nitrogen, diesel supply, water systems, inlet gas separation and filtration and the main flare.
"Santos GLNG is over 90 percent complete and on track for first LNG in the second half of 2015," Duke said.
Last year Santos GLNG passed a series of project milestones, including hydrotesting of the two LNG storage tanks, completion of the major gas field processing facilities, and drilling of 119 gas wells. The company also completed its 420km pipeline, installed the last of the 111 modules that make up its two LNG processing trains, and built its 400-meter-long LNG loading jetty.
Santos GLNG is a joint venture led by Australian oil and gas exploration and production company Santos, in partnership with Malaysia's Petronas, Total from France, and South Korea's Kogas.
