Chevron studies GTL project in Australia

Chevron Corp., the second largest oil and gas company in the United States, said it was teaming up with South Africa’s Sasol Ltd., through the existing joint venture company Sasol Chevron, to study a possible gas-to-liquids (GTL) project in Western Australia. Wheatstone was discovered in 2004 in Chevron’s 100% owned retention lease, WA-17-R, which lies close to both the North West Shelf Venture gas fields and Barrow Island. Chevron will be leading the upstream gas field development while Sasol Chevron will be responsible for the downstream element. The feasibility study is expected to be completed by early 2008.  Sasol recently started up its 34,000 barrel-per-day Oryx GTL plant in Qatar and is expected to begin shipments from the facility at the end of April.  (February 6, 2007)