Regional LNG: Australia Pacific commences LNG production

By Romel S. Gurky

ASX-listed Origin Energy Limited (Origin) confirmed Friday that downstream operator ConocoPhillips has advised that Australia Pacific LNG has commenced production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at its Curtis Island facility.

Origin said in a statement that Australia Pacific LNG remains on track to export its first cargo by the end of the year.

Origin Chief Executive Officer Integrated Gas, David Baldwin said, ?With first LNG production, Australia Pacific LNG has now achieved its last major milestone prior to exporting LNG to customers in Asia.?

?The Origin-operated upstream activities which deliver gas to Curtis Island are fully operational and performing well, and Origin, together with partners ConocoPhillips and Sinopec, are now focused on achieving first export,? he added.

?More than seven years of activity, 15,000 workers, as well as the support of many landowners in the Surat and Bowen basins, have helped Australia Pacific LNG reach this important point in its history,? Baldwin further said.

Australia Pacific LNG produces natural gas from Australia?s largest 2P CSG reserves base located in the Surat and Bowen basins in Queensland, which is piped to its LNG facility on Curtis Island where it is converted to LNG for export to customers in Asia.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak