Australia's March Quarter Gas Output Stood at 16 bcm

Australian gas production rose slightly in the March quarter to 16.0 billion cubic metres as increased coal seam gas production associated with Queensland LNG projects offset flat conventional gas production, said Australian Government’s Resources and Energy Quarterly released Tuesday.

Australia is estimated to have produced 65.7 billion cubic metres of gas in 2014–15 (equivalent to 48 million tonnes of LNG), a 4.4 percent increase on 2013–14.

In 2015–16, new LNG plants will remain the predominant source of gas production growth in Australia, driving a 30 percent rise in output to 85.1 billion cubic metres (62 million tonnes). GLNG, currently around 95 percent complete, is expected to achieve first-LNG in coming months and will be followed later in 2015 by APLNG, now 91 percent complete, and Gorgon LNG, around 90 percent complete.

As per the report, these three projects will ramp-up production and bring trains online throughout 2015–16, resulting in strong quarter to quarter growth over the outlook period.

Quarterly LNG exports reached an all-time high of 6.6 million tonnes in March due to higher loadings from the North West Shelf and Pluto projects and the start-up of QCLNG. Australian LNG exports are estimated to have reached 25.5 million tonnes – also a record – in 2014–15 and are forecast to continue growing to 38.1 million tonnes in 2015–16. The start-up of APLNG, GLNG and Gorgon, along with ramp-up at QCLNG, are underpinning that 49 per cent growth, the report said.