Santos advises that Esso Highlands Limited, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation and operator of the PNG LNG project, has confirmed that the project is more than 90% complete and on track for first LNG delivery in the second half of 2014.

The operator has also confirmed that the estimated gross capital cost of the project is unchanged at US$19 billion.

Good progress has been achieved across all aspects of the project, including:

Antonov cargo aircraft operations into Komo airfield were completed on 13 August 2013;
Commencement of the commissioning phase at the LNG plant, with gas sent from the Kutubu Central Processing Facility to the LNG plant to provide power and enable testing and commissioning of key facilities and equipment; and
Drilling completed at wellpad B and the rig is being moved to wellpad D.
Santos Chief Executive Officer David Knox said that the significant progress made at PNG LNG was pleasing and all co-venturers were looking forward to the first LNG cargo next year.

“Santos continues to make strong progress on our two major growth projects PNG LNG and GLNG, both of which remain on schedule and whose capital cost estimates remain unchanged,” Mr Knox said.

Santos has a 13.5% interest in PNG LNG. The PNG LNG Project operator’s press release is included in the PDF below.

About Santos
An Australian energy pioneer since 1954, Santos is a leading oil and gas producer,supplying Australian and Asian customers.
With its origins in the Cooper Basin, Santos is one of Australia’s largest producers of gas to the domestic market and has the largest exploration and production acreage position in Australia of any company.
Santos has also developed major oil and liquids businesses in Australia and operates in all mainland Australian states and the Northern Territory.
Santos also has an exploration-led Asian portfolio, with a focus on three core countries: Indonesia, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea.

See the site of PNG LNG project