Newsletters | Request Trial | Log in | Advertise | Digital Issue   |   Search
  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search
NJ Watson
8 July 2014
Follow @PetroleumEcon
Forward article link
Share PDF with colleagues

Rising costs and low returns are testing Australia’s gas players

The country’s major energy firms are looking further afield for growth

Shell warned in June that rising costs and low returns mean only “a fraction” of the large liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects in Australia and elsewhere will actually get built. Offshore Australia, Shell will hook-up the world’s first floating LNG (FLNG) liquefaction vessel, named Prelude, the largest maritime vessel ever built. But this hasn’t prevented the Anglo-Dutch supermajor from warning that other mega-projects, which once promised big returns, will struggle to move forward. “There is always so much talk about these big LNG projects around the world, but only a small fraction of them will get built,” Matthias Bichsel, Shell’s director of projects and technology told Reuters i

Also in this section
China’s secure energy transition
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
Venezuela already making oil comeback
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
Qatar’s Golden Pass dilemma
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
The demand destruction timebomb
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices

Share PDF with colleagues

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: PDF sharing is permitted internally for Petroleum Economist Gold Members only. Usage of this PDF is restricted by <%= If(IsLoggedIn, User.CompanyName, "")%>’s agreement with Petroleum Economist – exceeding the terms of your licence by forwarding outside of the company or placing on any external network is considered a breach of copyright. Such instances are punishable by fines of up to US$1,500 per infringement
Send

Forward article Link

Send
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Project Data
Maps
Podcasts
Social Links
Featured Video
Home
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Reaching your audience
  • PE Store
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact us
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookies
  • Sitemap
All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws © 2025 The Petroleum Economist Ltd
Cookie Settings
;

Search