When quizzed by a shareholder at the company’s annual general meeting this week on Woodside’s position on shale gas Coleman said it was something the company had not ruled out.

“We actually think it is truly a global resource and one that’s going to be around for a long time,” he said.

“What we’ve got to do is develop the business model and partnerships that allow us to be successful and pursue and explore shale gas opportunities.”

However,