The plan requires joint venture and regulatory approval, and involves drilling two wells in 2014, said a ConocoPhillips spokesman, who added that an investment decision on the Bayu-Undan phase three programme is expected in the middle of next year.

Joint venture partner Santos said the drilling campaign was always part of the field’s base plan, but that this programme will also potentially “extend the plateau life of Darwin LNG through Bayu-Undan gas supply”, and will also focus “on some incremental liquids through that further phase”.

Bayu-Undan