The project involves installing the venture’s third major offshore production platform and associated infrastructure, including a new subsea 50km pipeline to be tied into the first trunkline at the North Rankin platform. The development is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2008.

The remotely operated Angel processing platform will be in 80 metres of water, about 49km east of the venture’s existing North Rankin production facility, Woodside said.

The Angel development will include three production wells, scheduled for drilling between the third quarter of next year and the second quarter of 2007.

Hydrocarbons will be produced through one processing unit with a capacity of up to 800 million standard cubic feet of gas a day and up to 50,000 barrels of condensate a day. Angel will be tied in to the North Rankin platform via the new subsea pipeline.

The 7500-tonne Angel jacket substructure and 7000 tonne topside are expected to be installed and fully operational by the end of 2008. The jacket will be secured to the seabed by eight drilled and grouted, piled foundations each weighing more than 3000 tonnes.

“The Angel project continues to build on the foundation of the North West Shelf’s LNG business,” BHP Billiton group president energy, Philip Aiken, said.

“The development is another significant step in BHP Billiton’s goal to maximise the value of our interest in the North West Shelf and follows our approval of the fifth train expansion earlier this year.”

The six equal participants in the NWS Project are: Woodside Energy Ltd. (16.67% and operator); BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd (16.67%); BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%); Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%); Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd (16.67%); and Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd (16.67%). CNOOC NWS Private Limited is also a member of the North West Shelf Venture but does not have an interest in North West Shelf Venture infrastructure.