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http://www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=826935724§ionsource=s0
Total eyes two Gulf LNG trains in PNG |
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Blair Price Friday, 26 September 2014
FRENCH supermajor Total has revealed that the LNG project based on InterOil’s Elk-Antelope onshore carbonate discoveries in Papua New Guinea’s Gulf province could end up targeting 6 million tonnes per annum.
While the Total-operated appraisal drilling program will provide further confirmation of the reserves at play, Macquarie noted the Elk-Antelope field was safely part of Total’s list of proposed projects in light of the major’s recently unveiled plans to divest $US10 billion ($A11.3 billion) of assets over two years.
“Interestingly, despite all the confusion around whether this will be one train or two, which will be subject to the ongoing appraisal program and who will operate (Interoil has not been totally clear on this issue), Total refers to this as a 6MMtpa project (that is, two trains) and Total is reassuringly claiming to be the project operator,” Macquarie Equities said.
The bank also covered the prospect of collaboration with the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG project, which is already exporting.
“Also, with Total's growing focus on development costs and claims of ‘more stringent criteria on design and way we plan to develop’ suggests Total may yet consider a brownfield expansion of existing facilities in PNG – if Exxon can be won over, which would presumably require an equity stake.” Oil Search, the second biggest PNG LNG stakeholder and PNG’s dominant oil producer, is also in the Total and InterOil Elk-Antelope joint venture.
. . . . Interesting Blair starts talking about collaboration soon after recent PNG statements about 2nd plant? |

