JUST over a year from making a final investment decision on its Prelude floating LNG project off Australia’s northwest, Shell is making progress and will start development drilling for the project later this year.

Shell's FLNG facility

In a Prelude update, marking a year since FID on the revolutionary project, Shell said it would begin drilling seven subsea development wells later this year.

The development wells will be drilled with the Noble Clyde Boudreaux, with drilling expected to be completed in 2014.

According to Noble Corporation’s May fleet status report, the Noble Clyde Boudreaux semi-submersible was en route to Australia from Brazil and expected to start work in early November.

Once drilled, the development wells will be tied back to the subsea manifolds before being connected to the FLNG facility via flowlines.

The Prelude FLNG project includes developing the Prelude and Concerto fields in Shell’s wholly owned WA-371-P permit.

The development will be capable of producing 3.6 million tonnes of LNG per annum, 1.3MMtpa of condensate and 400,000 tonnes per annum of liquefied petroleum gas.

First gas is targeted for 2016.

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