GLNG: Indonesia approves Tangguh LNG expansion, CCUS plan

Indonesian regulator SKK Migas has approved the development plan for an expansion and a carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) project at BP’s Tangguh LNG export complex in Papua Barat.
The plan involves the development of the Ubadari natural gas field, as well as output being raised at the Vorwata gas field thanks to the use of CCUS. The development is estimated to enable a potential additional recovery of 1.3 trillion cubic feet (36.8bn cubic metres) of gas, from both the Ubadari and Vorwata CCUS projects, BP said in a statement.
The Vorwata CCUS development is expected to result in roughly 25mn tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) being injected back into the Vorwata reservoir to reduce venting of produced CO2 and to boost output through enhanced gas recovery (EGR). BP said the CO2 injection would remove up to 90% of the reservoir-associated CO2, which is currently vented and represents nearly half of Tangguh LNG’s emissions. The super-major believes that this will make Tangguh one of the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity LNG plants in the world.
The Ubadari field development, meanwhile, is being fast-tracked following a successful appraisal programme. The super-major said normally unmanned installations in the field will be connected by offshore pipeline to the Tangguh LNG facilities.
The front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for the Ubadari and Vorwata CCUS developments is due to start in mid-2022, subject to Tangguh partners’ and further SKK Migas approval. If a final investment decision (FID) follows, the project could enter service in 2026.