While most of the media attention in the Australian energy sector was focussed on the big deals done by the Gorgon consortium, Woodside also got some press after announcing plans to triple the size of the Pluto LNG plant by 2014, beating both Gorgon and Chevron's proposed Wheatstone plant into production (The Australian - Woodside steps on gas to triple size of Pluto).

The two new Pluto LNG trains will boost production from the project from 4.3 million tonnes a year to 12.9 million tonnes. At this point Woodside doesn't have sufficient gas reserves to supply these, but CEO Don Voelte is claiming the gas will come from a mix of third-party gas, existing discoveries and a new 20-well Carnarvon Basin drilling program the company will start in the coming months.

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