--> Abstract: The Pluto Field — from LNG Opportunity from the Northwest Shelf of Australia, by Chris Clayton, Georgia Boyd, Tim Conroy, Lina Hartanto, Glen Johnson, Dane Lance, Giles Philip, Mark Rayfield, and Larry Tilbury; #90082 (2008)

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The Pluto Field — from LNG Opportunity from the Northwest Shelf of Australia

Chris Clayton, Georgia Boyd, Tim Conroy, Lina Hartanto, Glen Johnson, Dane Lance, Giles Philip, Mark Rayfield, and Larry Tilbury
Pluto Project, Woodside Energy Ltd, Perth, WA, Australia

The Pluto Field was discovered in March 2005 when the Pluto-1 well encountered a gross gas column of around 225m. The Pluto Field reservoirs comprise sediments of the alluvial Triassic Mungaroo Formation (E Unit) and the more tidally influenced Brigadier (D Unit). These sediments dip approximately eastwards at a low angle, and subcrop against the regional Jurassic Unconformity (MU).

Structurally the trap is formed by a relatively simple eastward dipping tilted fault block, sealed by the regionally extensive Forestier/Muderong shale unit. Internal faulting within the field area is relatively limited at seismic resolution.

Seismic quality is reasonable to good. Regional understanding is also good given that the reservoirs in the Pluto Field are the same as those in many of the fields on the nearby North West Shelf project. Recovery is expected to be good via depletion drive in the high quality reservoir sandstones. Recoverable resources for the development are expected to be around 5.0Tcf.

FID (Final Investment Decision) for the Pluto Project was taken in mid 2007 with an estimated cost close to A$12 billion. Two gas customers (Kansai Electric and Tokyo Gas) were also confirmed for the project in mid 2007. The foundation development of the Pluto Project has a number of key challenges in the design and laying of pipelines up the continental shelf, the construction of a riser platform in a geotechnically complex area, and the building of an onshore LNG plant in an area of cultural and heritage significance.

The project is currently in the construction phase. From first discovery the Pluto Project has been developed on an accelerated schedule with likely start up in late 2010. If this schedule of delivery is met, The Pluto Project will be the fastest LNG development in the world, with an elapsed time between discovery and first production of around 5.5 years.

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa 2008 © AAPG Search and Discovery