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Woodside to develop LNG terminal off California coast
Woodside’s US subsidiary and Crystal Energy have agreed to develop the Clearwater Port liquefied natural gas import terminal off the coast of California.
Woodside – operator of the $14 billion North West Shelf LNG venture in Western Australia – will provide technical expertise and operate the terminal in exchange for preferential access rights.
Woodside chief executive Don Voelte says the venture brings together the two companies’ complementary experience, and adds “Woodside has substantial gas reserves and worldwide experience in LNG production and transportation while Crystal provides an ideal potential entry point to the world’s largest gas market.”
The Clearwater Port involves converting the Grace oil and gas platform located in 97 metres of water 21 km off the coast and will have a base capacity of about six million tonnes of LNG a year. Gas will be directly transferred from tankers into pipelines tied into offshore infrastructure.
Woodside says it will commit US$14 to $15 million over the next six months to develop the terminal proposal to a form that can be reasonably considered by environmentalists and other stakeholders.
Woodside’s North West Shelf operation meanwhile, has opened an office in Seoul, aimed at boosting its business presence and customer support in Korea.
