Australia's Gorgon LNG T2 resumes output, T1 closure preparations underway

Sydney — Production has resumed at the Australian Gorgon LNG facility's Train 2 following welding issues discovered earlier in the year while preparations are underway to close Train 1 for inspections, operator Chevron said Nov. 23.

Gorgon's Train 2 went offline for scheduled maintenance on May 23 and weld quality issues were subsequently found in heat exchangers in July. There are now concerns that the other trains may be facing the same issues.

"Insights gained from Train 2 repairs will contribute to more efficient inspections and potential repairs on Trains 1 and 3," a company spokesman said in an email to S&P Global Platts.

"The length of the shutdown will be determined by what is discovered during inspections," he said, adding that inspections and potential work will take place on Train 3 following the completion of the Train 1 phase.

The spokesman said the company continues to deliver LNG to customers and gas to the Western Australian domestic market under its contractual commitments.

Gorgon, based in Western Australia, has a nameplate capacity of 15.6 million mt/year with each of its three trains equal in size at 5.2 million mt/year. It is operated by Chevron Australia and is a joint venture of the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron, which owns 47.3% of the project. ExxonMobil and Shell own 25% each while Osaka Gas has 1.25%. Tokyo Gas owns 1%, and JERA 0.417%.