70,000-Tonne China-Built Gas Platform for Woodside Set to Arrive Later This Year
Udumbara
.
Woodside Energy’s latest floating gas platform, to be deployed as part of the expanded Scarborough Gas Project, has been built in China.
The 70,000-tonne structure, around the size of a rugby field (100 metres long and 70 metres wide), will be floated to a site 375 kilometres off the Western Australian coast later this year in a journey likely to take 40 days.
During its operation, it is projected to produce LNG worth around $30 billion.
China Resources chairman Yang Ping said the company was “delighted” to sign the contract with Woodside, which he described as “a leading supplier of LNG (liquefied natural gas) globally” with a “proven track record as an operator.”
The Scarborough Energy Project was 86 percent complete at the end of the first half of 2025, excluding Pluto Train 1 modifications. The first LNG cargo is targeted for the second half of 2026.
The floating production unit (FPU) achieved major milestones throughout the first half of 2025, with construction labourers working 24 hours a day, including on national holidays.
The construction of both the hull and topsides was completed at China International Marine Containers (Group) Co (CIMC’s) shipyard, and the structures were successfully loaded out and connected during the floatover activities in May 2025.
Government Approval Provided Certainty
Woodside Executive Vice President for Australia Liz Westcott said final Australian government approval followed an extensive assessment and appeal process and included rigorous conditions to manage the protection of cultural heritage.“This final approval provides certainty for the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project, so it can continue to provide reliable energy supplies as it has for more than 40 years,” she said.
Trade Ties With China
Liquefied natural gas is Australia’s second most valuable export to China, worth about $21 billion in 2024. While iron ore tops that with exports worth more than $100 billion last year, Beijing is taking a hard line on price negotiations, having recently ceased all imports from Australia’s largest miner, BHP, in an attempt to gain leverage.Recent comments by Chinese state media accusing Australia of a “two-faced policy towards China” have increased concerns among some exporters that similar tactics could be applied to all Australian products.
Asked whether the purchase of the platform would smooth relations with Beijing and help ensure similar tactics weren’t pursued in relation to LNG, a company spokesperson said, “This isn’t an issue for Woodside.”
“Woodside is well regarded in the China market as a safe, reliable and credible partner with which to work,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times. “Our growing and diversified LNG portfolio is valued by our Chinese customers to help support their energy transition.”
Woodside did not elaborate when asked by The Epoch Times whether the platform was purchased in yuan or U.S. dollars, citing “commercial in confidence.” Beijing wants more international use of its centrally controlled yuan, in a move aimed at challenging the dominance of the U.S. dollar.
.
