media statement chevron Australia further boosts WA domestic gas supply

Perth, Western Australia, 12 August 2024: Chevron Australia has boosted production capacity at the Wheatstone domestic gas facility for the second year in a row, delivering on a multi-year plan to increase the facility’s domestic gas production capacity. 

The nameplate capacity of Wheatstone’s domestic gas plant has officially increased from 215 terajoules per day to 230 terajoules per day – an increase of about 7 per cent.

The latest increase follows the initial capacity boost last year from the original 205 terajoule per day design capacity.

The combined result of these two increases means that Wheatstone now has the capacity to produce approximately 12 per cent more domestic gas than it could just two years ago.

Chevron Australia managing director Mark Hatfield said the increases were the result of a focused program to optimise existing infrastructure at the Chevron-operated Wheatstone gas facility.

“We recognise the importance of providing a reliable supply of natural gas for Western Australian businesses and households. I must acknowledge the Wheatstone team for their efforts, over a number of years, to increase domestic gas production capacity. They thoroughly tested the plant’s high-rate performance, under various operating conditions, to safely deliver a second significant increase.”  

The further increase at Wheatstone puts the combined capacity of the Chevron-operated Gorgon and Wheatstone domestic gas facilities at 530 terajoules per day – almost half of the State’s daily supply.

Hatfield said over the past year Gorgon and Wheatstone represented around 44 per cent of daily production and the Gorgon domestic gas facility currently supplies more domestic gas into the WA market than any other facility.

“We are proud of the important role we play in meeting the energy needs of our communities and customers.

“Last year our Gorgon domestic gas facility achieved record production, supplying more domestic gas into the WA market than any other facility and, for the second year in a row, we have safely and reliably increased production rates at the Wheatstone domestic gas facility.

“Achievements such as this reflect our ongoing commitment to safeguard the state’s energy security, ensure continued supply to our WA customers, and help to meet the rising demand for gas.” 

The Wheatstone domestic gas nameplate change has been reported on the Gas Bulletin Board WA which is operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Wheatstone is operated by Chevron Australia and is a joint venture between the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (64.14 percent), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) (13.4 percent), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (13 percent), and Kyushu Electric Power Company (1.46 percent), together with PE Wheatstone Pty Ltd, part-owned by JERA (8 percent).  

Gorgon is operated by Chevron Australia and is a joint venture between the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (47.3 per cent), ExxonMobil (25 percent), Shell (25 percent), Osaka Gas (1.25 percent), MidOcean Energy (1 percent) and JERA (0.417 percent).