The 3.7mn t/yr Darwin LNG (DLNG) project operated by Santos in northern Australia has paused output due to issues with the 850mn ft³/d BW Opal floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
Dry gas seals on a number of compressors on the BW Opal have been replaced, a Santos spokeswoman said on 24 March, confirming operational issues that resulted in DLNG failing to load a cargo in March.
DLNG is undergoing a temporary shutdown following the works with some temporary flaring occurring, and Santos is now in the final stages of commissioning for Barossa LNG to flush the system before the project returns to full production.
DLNG last loaded a cargo on the 160,000m³ Kool Husky on 28 February, vessel tracking data show. The facility usually ships about one cargo per week.
Operator Santos brought DLNG's Barossa backfill project on line in January, delayed from an earlier guidance of July-September 2025, and last month said the $4.6bn project was expected to reach full flow rates in the coming weeks.
The effective closure of the strait of Hormuz has cut 1.6mn t/week of LNG from the global supply balance, meaning any limits on output are more keenly felt.
DLNG does not provide scheduled LNG maintenance data to Australian energy regulator Aemo like Queensland-based LNG producers based at Gladstone harbour do.
