The sheer volume of individual contracts involved in the LNG project off the north-east coast of Western Australia also, however, causes problems for those in the supply chain, leading to delays, delegates at ONS in Stavanger heard on Monday.

Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell made its final investment decision on the Prelude FLNG unit, which will produce 1.3 million tonnes per annum of LNG, in 2011.

When