The Scarborough Energy Project has reached a major milestone with the safe arrival of its floating production unit (FPU) at the Scarborough field, located 375 kilometres off the coast of Karratha, Western Australia.
The approximately 70,000-tonne facility completed its long voyage from China to Australia after being towed more than 4,000 nautical miles.
The arrival marks a major step forward for the multibillion-dollar Scarborough development, one of Australia’s most significant resources projects, and adds to a growing list of milestones achieved in recent months.
Woodside Acting CEO Liz Westcott described the event as a defining moment for the company and its partners as they move closer to first gas production.
“Having the FPU, an integral component of the Scarborough Energy Project, safely in the field is a momentous way to begin 2026. Its successful arrival is a further demonstration of the Woodside, McDermott and subcontractor teams’ collaboration and commitment to safe delivery of the project,” Ms Westcott said.
“At the start of 2025, the FPU hull and topsides were being constructed in separate yards. Since then, they have been integrated into a single unit and delivered into Australian waters, with work on securing the mooring lines underway.
“Our focus now shifts to the hook-up and commissioning phase in preparation for production, and ultimately, first LNG cargo which is on track for the second half of this year.”
The Scarborough FPU is among the largest semi-submersible production facilities ever built.
Serving as the centrepiece of the Scarborough Joint Venture’s upstream operations, it will play a critical role in processing gas from the Scarborough field before export through the project’s trunkline to the onshore Pluto LNG facility.
Equipped with advanced emissions-reduction technologies, the unit is designed to treat and compress gas efficiently while accommodating potential tie-ins for future developments in nearby fields.
The engineering achievement highlights the evolution of offshore gas infrastructure and represents a key investment in Western Australia’s long-term energy security.
Once fully operational, the Scarborough Energy Project will deliver a secure and reliable gas supply not only to Western Australia but also to customers across the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Industry observers note that the project will help underpin the state’s gas requirements while supporting regional economies transitioning toward cleaner-burning fuels.
Beyond its operational importance, the project is expected to deliver significant economic returns to Australia.
According to Woodside, the development will contribute more than $55 billion in both direct and indirect taxes over its lifetime.
This includes employment opportunities, local business growth, and expanded infrastructure across the Pilbara region.
The safe arrival of the FPU comes as construction progress across the Scarborough Project surpasses 91 per cent completion, signalling that the final stages are well underway.
The hook-up and commissioning operations will now focus on integrating the unit with subsea systems and confirming all technical processes leading up to production start-up later this year.
The Scarborough field itself holds an estimated 13 trillion cubic feet of gas, making it one of the most promising undeveloped offshore gas resources on Australia’s north-west coast.
Its development is being carried out by the Scarborough Joint Venture, operated by Woodside Energy in collaboration with partners and subcontractors across multiple global supply chains.
With the FPU now positioned and installation activities progressing, the Scarborough Energy Project continues to build momentum toward delivering its first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the second half of 2026.
For Woodside, the achievement is not only a major logistical success but also a demonstration of the company’s enduring commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the safe execution of complex projects in one of the world’s most challenging offshore environments.
