North West Shelf Natural Gas Project

In 1971, the North Rankin gas field was discovered in the Carnarvon Basin in water 125 metres deep, 135 kilometres north west of the port of Dampier. The gas reservoirs ranged from 2,400 to 3,100 metres below the seabed. The discovery was followed in 1972 by additional major discoveries of gas and condensate in the nearby Goodwyn and Angel fields. The discoveries were technically challenging and commercialisation solutions required then unprecedented levels of investment.

Only a world scale development project would prove to be financially viable. Such a project required the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for delivery to export markets. This would be the first LNG project in Australia and would also represent the forerunner of a major new industry and significant contributor to the economy of Australia.

This nomination covers the first two phases of the North West Shelf Project (NWS Project).

• The first phase involved the concept and development of the North Rankin A (NRA) offshore drilling and production platform, a large diameter submarine pipeline to shore at Mermaid Sound in the Port of Dampier and domestic gas facilities for delivery of gas into a Western Australian Government pipeline to Perth and Bunbury, as well as export of residual condensate.
• The second phase saw the construction of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing trains, supported by storage tanks, export facilities and transportation tankers.
  

Karratha Gas Plant 1989
Source: Woodside

North Rankin A Platform
Source: Woodside HI - W0018-80

Interpretation Panel and EHIM
Source: Michael Bell

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"100%","height":"350px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":14,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-20.600618187817116,"lon":116.77667945273502,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

The panel is immediately outside the entrance to the North West Shelf (NWS) Visitors Centre overlooking the Karratha Gas Plant.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Engineering Heritage International Marker (EHIM)
Award Date	2 August 2017
Heritage Significance	At commencement in 1979, The North West Shelf Project was the largest single non-government project ever undertaken in Australian history. The NWS Project’s significance can be compared with the development of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme of the 1950-60s. Both: comprise of very large facilities at a number of remote and difficult to access locations; utilised leading-edge international technology and engineering practice in their design and construction; are required to operate in a wide range of weather conditions with a high level of reliability and safety; and are of national significance in their impact on Australia’s economic prosperity.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report	Ceremony Booklet available here. Ceremony Report available here.
Plaque/Interpretation Panel	Available here.