Chevron Welcomes Shell to the Wheatstone Project
Shell joins the project as a gas supplier and equity participant
PERTH, Western Australia, April 10, 2011 - Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) today announced the signing of agreements with Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd to bring Shell into the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project as a natural gas supplier and equity participant.
George Kirkland, vice chairman, Chevron Corporation, said, “Chevron is pleased to welcome another participant into the Wheatstone Project. The Wheatstone hub will provide a reliable new source of energy to Australia and the region. It will also further enhance Chevron’s position as a leading supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Asia-Pacific.”
Under the unitization agreement with Chevron’s Australian subsidiaries, Shell will assume an 8 percent participating interest in the Wheatstone and Iago natural gas fields in the Chevron-operated permits WA-253-P, WA-17-R and WA-16-R, located offshore northwest Australia.
The Wheatstone and Iago gas fields will supply Trains 1 and 2 of the Wheatstone Project, located onshore at Ashburton North in Western Australia.
Shell will also assume a 6.4 percent participating interest in the project facilities, with Chevron remaining project operator.
Chevron Australia managing director, Roy Krzywosinski, said front-end engineering and design (FEED) activity on the Wheatstone Project is nearing completion.
“The Wheatstone Project is set to become one of Australia’s largest resource projects and Australia’s first LNG hub. A final investment decision is expected in the second half of this year once environmental approvals and other associated agreements are finalized with various levels of government.”
The first phase of the Wheatstone Project consists of two LNG processing trains with a combined capacity of 8.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and a domestic gas plant.
Chevron is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies and through its Australian subsidiaries, has been present in Australia for almost 60 years. With the ingenuity and commitment of more than 2,000 people, Chevron Australia leads the development of the Gorgon and Wheatstone natural gas projects; manages its equal one-sixth interest in the North West Shelf Venture; and operates Australia’s largest onshore oilfield on Barrow Island and the Thevenard Island oilfields. The company is also a participant in the Browse liquefied natural gas development and is a significant investor in exploration offshore northwest Australia, one of Chevron’s four global focus areas for exploration.
In addition, Chevron’s Perth-based Global Technology Centre provides technology support and solutions to the company’s operations in Australia and around the world. www.chevronaustralia.com