Overview

The Tubridgi Gas Storage Facility (TGS) is 100% owned and operated by AGI Tubridgi Pty Ltd, (AGIT) (part of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group).

Tubridgi is a shallow onshore reservoir which was previously abandoned and has been purchased and developed by AGIT into Western Australia’s largest gas storage facility.

The TGS facility is located 25km west of Onslow in the North West of Western Australia and is in close proximity to the Chevron-operated Wheatstone gas plant and the Woodside-operated Macedon plant. TGS is currently connected to the WAWP 10” pipeline which transports gas to and from the interconnected Dampier Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP), which services all major gas customers and producers in Western Australia.

Tubridgi Fly-through

Tubridgi History and AGIG Development

The Tubridgi Gas Storage project originated in mid-2012 when AGIG (previously trading as DDG) purchased the abandoned Tubridgi gas field from BHP Billiton. Prior to BHP, the Tubridgi Joint Venture had produced around 69 PJ of dry gas in the mid-1990s to early 2000s.

AGIG agreed to take FID in late 2016 to develop the TGS facility as it is known today and at the same time reach agreement with foundation customer Citic Pacific Mine Management to provide storage services, to underwrite the development.

The $74 million development included:

• two 2.7MW compressors

• five injection and withdrawal wells

• a gas processing facility.

At start-up in 2017 (ahead of schedule and under budget) TGS was capable of injecting or withdrawing 50TJ/d and providing 42PJ of storage.

Since start-up AGIG have further expanded Tubridgi’s physical capability to 90TJ/d Injections and 60TJ/d of withdrawal capability, and expanded the reservoir capacity from 42PJ up to 60PJ, enabling us to provide storage and loan services to a range of major customers.

After 3 years of successful operations exclusively in physical injection mode (of typical rates up to 90TJ/d) we reached the reservoir capacity of exactly 60PJ of customer gas before switching into physical withdrawal mode where we typically provide physical withdrawals of up to 60TJ/d. AGIT also has a range of operational and commercial arrangements in place which means that TGS is capable of satisfying outside of its physical limits.

Tubridgi 

AGIG’s Transmission Asset Management team (TAM) manages all design, engineering and construction for the Tubridgi development project and the Tubridgi expansion works, for both surface and sub-surface requirements. AGIG’s Transmission Operations team (TO)  provides all on site operations and maintenance requirements and  AGIT works closely with AGIG’s Control Room Operations to manage all day to day commercial operations requirements.

Tubridgi Native Gas Expansion

In 2019/20 AGIT conducted a shallow 3D seismic survey and subsequent interpretation to map out the reservoir and confirm the existing stored gas, but also identified and certified 22PJ of native gas (native gas is defined as gas that is native to the reservoir, and not injected (stored) from other sources).

Subsequent successful marketing and FEED studies has enabled AGIT to take FID in February 2022 to invest $53 million to further develop TGS to drill production wells and expand capacity to produce the native gas, with start-up scheduled for mid-2023.

This scope of work includes:

• Installation of a third compressor

• Drilling and tieback of 3 new dedicated production wells

• Enhancement of existing surface facilities

• Drilling of a 4th well to further appraise the reservoir for hydrocarbons and CCS potential

Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

The nature of the Tubridgi reservoir means there is excellent potential for AGIT to play a significant role in the capturing and sequestration of carbon produced in the North West of Western Australia. Therefore, as part of the expansion project plan, AGIT will also investigate the potential for Tubridgi to be utilised for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) in the future. This is consistent with government policy and social attitudes on decarbonising the economy.

TGS Latest News

December 2022

AGIT’s TGS Expansion Project is progressing well, allowing for extended lead times in the current marketplace.

• Ongoing Reliability works have been implemented

• Detailed design continues to progress with long lead items ordered, including: 

  o    Drilling materials

  o    Valves, fittings and flow lines

  o    Third compressor 

  o    Pressure vessels for dehydration and filters 

• Drill rig and camp currently being refurbished

• AGIT is currently conducting feasibility studies and market engagement to investigate further expansion (TGSX-2) of TGS Firm withdrawal capacity (70TJ/d) up to circa 100TJ/d or more.

o    If you are interested in contracting for part of this expanded capacity then please contact Gareth: gareth.owens@agig.com.au or 0447 309 645