Santos has announced that the BW Opal FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading vessel) has successfully received first gas into the facility, marking the commencement of production operations. This achievement follows the BW Opal reaching ready for start-up status on 16 September 2025 and the initiation of flow from the subsea wells, representing a major milestone for Santos and its Barossa joint venture partners, PRISM Energy Australia and JERA Australia, in delivering the Barossa LNG project.
Exceptional Reservoir Performance Exceeds Expectations
The company has reported that all six wells drilled in the Barossa gas field have intersected excellent reservoir quality. Testing has been completed on five of the six wells, demonstrating outstanding flow capacity that exceeds pre-drill estimates. The wells show expected average potential deliverability of around 300 million standard cubic feet per day, underscoring the robust capacity of the Barossa field to sustain long-term production.
Regulatory Approval Enables Darwin LNG Operations
In a complementary development, the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority has renewed the Environment Protection Licence for Darwin LNG, commencing 19 September 2025. This regulatory approval paves the way for first gas into and start-up of the Darwin LNG plant.
Santos managing director and chief executive officer Kevin Gallagher emphasised the significance of the achievement, stating that ready for start-up for the BW Opal marked the formal transition from project execution to production operations. This transition follows the ready for start-up status for the Darwin LNG plant upon completion of the life extension work scope and the commencement of production from the offshore subsea wells.
“First gas into the FPSO is an important step for the project and a credit to the hard work of our people and support from our partners. It puts us on track to deliver reliable energy to our customers and long-term value to our shareholders from Barossa LNG,” Gallagher said.
Advanced FPSO Technology and Environmental Performance
The BW Opal represents one of the largest and most technically advanced FPSOs ever constructed, featuring a 358-metre hull with accommodation for up to 140 personnel. The vessel boasts gas handling capacity of 850 million standard cubic feet per day and a condensate handling capacity of 11,000 barrels per day.
The FPSO incorporates industry-leading combined-cycle power generation technology, including waste heat recovery and steam turbine systems designed to maximise energy efficiency. This advanced power generation system is expected to reduce non-reservoir emissions by more than 50 percent, equivalent to over 0.75 million tonnes of CO2e per year, compared to the offshore project proposal accepted by the regulator NOPSEMA.
Strategic Position and Long-Term Operations
The FPSO serves as the production centrepiece of Santos’ Barossa LNG project and will be permanently positioned in the Barossa gas field approximately 285 kilometres offshore from Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The facility is designed to supply the Darwin LNG plant for the next two decades, establishing a significant long-term energy supply chain for the region.
The successful first gas achievement represents a critical step forward in Santos’ strategic development of the Barossa field and reinforces the company’s position in Australia’s LNG export sector.
For more information visit www.santos.com
