Santos said in its first-quarter report on Thursday that the BW Opal FPSO is expected to commence ramping up production in the next week as “we complete the flushing and cleaning of heat exchanger trains.”
“During this recent shutdown, the dry gas compressor seals have been replaced to allow full production rates once the facility is back online,” Santos said.
The company added that LNG production is expected to commence “a few days after the FPSO is online.”
In January, Santos shipped the first Darwin LNG cargo produced from the Barossa gas field to Japan.
The 160,000-cbm Kool Blizard loaded the first Barossa LNG cargo at the 3.7 mtpa Darwin LNG plant at Wickham Point.
However, Santos temporarily shut down the project last month.
The company said in an update earlier this month that three Barossa LNG cargoes were sold in the first quarter, while production was constrained by commissioning activities.
Results
Santos reported production of 22.5 mmboe in the first quarter, up 1 percent on the prior quarter and 3 percent on the corresponding period in 2025, as Barossa achieved its first cargoes.
According to Santos, the ExxonMobil-operated PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea maintained “high-plant reliability of more than 98 percent, delivering an annual run rate of 8.6 Mtpa, with Santos-operated gas facilities performing strongly during the quarter.”
The Santos-operated GLNG project in Australia delivered “stable upstream production, with LNG production at an annual run rate of 5.8 Mtpa and 24 contracted cargoes shipped during the quarter,” the company said.
Sales revenue of approximately $1.27 billion for the first quarter was up 3 percent on the prior quarter and down percent compared to the same quarter in 2025, Santos said.
Santos reported free cash flow from operations of approximately $383 million, in line with the prior quarter.
