Woodside closes Karratha plant after electrical fault

Woodside Petroleum Ltd, the operator of the North West Shelf Joint Venture (NWSJV), has shut down the Karratha gas plant following an electrical fault.

The oil and gas producer said domestic gas production was expected to resume late Thursday after the electrical fault forced the plant's shutdown earlier Wednesday.

Woodside said liquefied natural gas production would resume after the re-start of domestic gas production.

The company said it did not believe the shutdown would "materially affect its production forecast for the year".

Woodside is the operator of the venture, which has five other participants - BHP Billiton Ltd, BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd, and Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd.

The NWSJV supplies LNG to long term customers in Asia and produced in excess of 11 million tonnes in calendar 2006.

Woodside shares gained 56 cents to close at $50.95, while BHP Billiton put on 16 cents at $40.30.