North West Shelf 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.
Click for directions to the see the heritage marker
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 |
| Prominent People | Sir Charles Court, Peter Jones, Bruce Kirkwood, Charles Allen, Ian Henderson, Arnold Ploum, Mike Lodge, Frans Mittertreiner, Wim Kemper, Dr Errol Seymour, Bob King OAM, Ed Ryan |
| Nomination Document | Available here |
| Ceremony Report | Available here |
| Ceremony Booklet | Available here |
| Interpretation Panel | Available here |
