Woodside hits first gas at Scarborough

WOODSIDE Energy’s Scarborough development has its first gas flowing from the offshore field and the floating production unit (FPU) has been declared ready for start‑up.

The company says the project is 98% complete and remains on track to deliver its first LNG cargo in the fourth quarter of this year, according to a Scarborough News update published this month.

The achievement marks the culmination of years of planning and construction across one of Australia’s largest new energy projects. Scarborough start‑up manager Tim Gibbons said the first gas was “the culmination of years of planning, construction and commissioning”, describing the milestone as a major achievement for Woodside staff, joint‑venture participants and contractors involved in bringing the offshore facilities online.

Located in the Carnarvon Basin about 375 kilometres off the Pilbara coast, the Scarborough field is expected to provide a secure gas supply for Western Australia and the wider Asia‑Pacific region.

Woodside says the project will support the energy transition by helping North Asian customers reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions, while also contributing more than A$55 billion in direct and indirect taxes over its life and generating billions in GDP uplift.

Key construction achievements highlighted in the Scarborough News update include the manufacture and installation of a 433‑kilometre subsea pipeline, drilling of eight of the eventual 13 production wells, and completion of the 70,000‑tonne FPU — comprising a 40,000‑tonne hull and 30,000‑tonne topsides that were integrated offshore after a wet tow to the field.

A Scarborough project manager quoted in the statement said the first‑gas milestone reflected the “commitment, technical excellence and resilience” of the project team, noting that important work remains before the first LNG cargo is delivered.

Attention now shifts to onshore commissioning at Pluto Train 2, which will process Scarborough gas for export .

Woodside reports more than 45 million hours of work have been completed across the project, along with installation of flexible flowlines, subsea infrastructure, suction piles and mooring chains.

A 1500km fibre‑optic link now connects the FPU to Woodside’s Integrated Remote Operations Centre in Perth, enabling real‑time monitoring and control of offshore systems.

The company says the project remains on schedule for first cargo later this year, positioning Scarborough as a major new source of LNG supply for regional markets.