OREANDA-NEWS. GDF SUEZ, as the operator (60%), and the Australian company Santos (40%) announced today that the Bonaparte LNG project will consider other potential development options in addition to the FLNG concept to develop the Petrel, Tern and Frigate natural gas fields, located 250 kilometres offshore west of Darwin. These options will include a pipeline connection to Darwin.

While the partners firmly believe the fields have material value, having been fully appraised, their future development using floating LNG technology, although technically robust as demonstrated during extensive pre-FEED studies, does not currently meet companies' commercial requirements.

Consequently, the proposed Bonaparte floating LNG project will not be taken into the front-end-engineering and design (FEED) phase at this point in time.

GDF SUEZ is one of the leading LNG players in the world and the main LNG importer in Europe. The Group has a large and diversified portfolio of LNG supplies, representing 16 MTPA and targeting 20 MTPA by 2020. It operates a fleet of 14 LNG carriers and has a significant presence in regasification terminals around the world. To expand its portfolio of LNG supplies, GDF SUEZ is involved in the development of 2 others liquefaction plants projects: Cameron LNG project in the USA, whose final investment decision is expected this year and Cameroon LNG in Cameroon.