Potential strike at Woodside Energy on offshore platforms

Woodside Energy unions are threatening a strike on offshore platforms in Australia over a wage dispute, which could disrupt LNG shipments.

Share:

Subscribe for unlimited access to all energy sector news.

Over 150 multisector articles and analyses every week.

Your 1st year at 99 $*

then 199 $/year

*renews at 199$/year, cancel anytime before renewal.

Unions threaten strike action at Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf offshore platforms. The dispute concerns wages and conditions. The Offshore Alliance is considering a notice period of September 2.

Threat of Strike on Woodside Energy Offshore Platforms

Woodside Energy (WDS.AX) unions are planning a potential strike from September 2 on the North West Shelf offshore platforms. This initiative risks destabilizing global flows of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Australia, the world’s leading LNG exporter. Workers are demanding better pay and working conditions on these platforms. The Offshore Alliance merges the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers’ Union. It unanimously adopted a strike notice against Woodside Energy. This measure is conditional on their requests being met. This puts considerable pressure on Woodside, and has the potential to disrupt the global LNG market.

Long-standing dispute over wages and conditions

Woodside and workers on its offshore platforms in the North West Shelf are engaged in a long-running dispute over wages and working conditions. This dispute underlines the persistent differences between the parties. These offshore platforms play a crucial role in supplying Australia’s largest natural gas liquefaction plant. Workers expressed their dissatisfaction with current conditions, prompting the Offshore Alliance to consider strike action.

Strike Notice and Union Tension

In accordance with the law, the Offshore Alliance unanimously approved a strike notice against Woodside Energy. This notice, to run from September 2, is contingent on the workers’ demands not being met. The move is designed to put pressure on Woodside, and raises concerns about possible disruptions to global LNG supplies. In this way, unions seek to obtain more favorable conditions for workers.

Potential Impact on the LNG Market and Price Volatility

The announcement of the potential strike has already caused tremors on energy markets, with increased volatility in gas prices, particularly in Europe. The possibility of a strike has raised fears of stiffer competition between Asian and European buyers for LNG cargoes. The facilities operated by Woodside and Chevron hold a significant share of the global LNG market, amplifying their influence on market dynamics.

CTCI strengthens its position in Taiwan with a new EPC contract for a regasification unit at the Kaohsiung LNG terminal, with a capacity of 1,600 tonnes per hour.
Exxon Mobil forecasts sustained growth in global natural gas demand by 2050, driven by industrial use and rising energy needs in developing economies.
Capstone Green Energy received a 5.8-megawatt order for its natural gas microturbines, to be deployed across multiple food production facilities in Mexico through regional distributor DTC Machinery.
Private firm Harvest Midstream has signed a $1 billion acquisition deal with MPLX for gas processing and transport infrastructure across three western US states.
Sempra Infrastructure and EQT Corporation have signed a 20-year liquefied natural gas purchase agreement, consolidating Phase 2 of the Port Arthur LNG project in Texas and strengthening the United States’ position in the global LNG market.
Subsea7 was selected to lead phase 3 of the Sakarya gas field, a strategic contract for Türkiye’s energy supply valued between $750mn and $1.25bn.
Tokyo protests against Chinese installations deemed unilateral in a disputed maritime zone, despite a bilateral agreement stalled since 2010.
Bp has awarded Baker Hughes a long-term service agreement for the Tangguh liquefied natural gas plant, covering spare parts, maintenance and technical support for its turbomachinery equipment.
Chinese group Sinopec has launched a large-scale seismic imaging campaign across 3,000 km² in Mexico using nodal technology from Sercel, owned by Viridien, delivered in August to map areas with complex terrain.
CNOOC Limited has signed two production sharing contracts with SKK Migas to explore the Gaea and Gaea II blocks in West Papua, alongside EnQuest and Agra.
A consortium led by ONEOK is developing a 450-mile pipeline to transport up to 2.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day from the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast.
AMIGO LNG has awarded Drydocks World a major EPC contract to build the world’s largest floating LNG liquefaction terminal, aimed at strengthening exports to Asia and Latin America.
The Alberta Utilities Commission approves the Need Assessment Application for the Yellowhead Pipeline, marking a key step for Canadian Utilities, a subsidiary of ATCO. The project foresees significant economic benefits for the province.
Nigeria LNG signs major deals with oil groups to ensure gas supply to its liquefaction infrastructure over two decades.
The European Union and Washington have finalized an agreement setting $750 billion in U.S. gas, oil and nuclear purchases, complemented by $600 billion in European investments in the United States by 2028.
Sempra Infrastructure and ConocoPhillips signed a 20-year LNG sales agreement for 4 Mtpa, confirming their joint commitment to expanding the Port Arthur LNG liquefaction terminal in Texas.
Russian pipeline gas exports to China rose by 21.3% over seven months, contrasting with a 7.6% drop in oil shipments during the same period.
MCF Energy continues operations at the Kinsau-1A drilling site, targeting a promising Jurassic formation first tested by Mobil in 1983.
The group announces an interim dividend of 53 cps, production of 548 Mboe/d, a unit cost of $7.7/boe and major milestones on Scarborough, Trion, Beaumont and Louisiana LNG, while strengthening liquidity and financial discipline.
Norway’s combined oil and gas production exceeded official forecasts by 3.9% in July, according to preliminary data from the regulator.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

or

Go unlimited with our annual offer: $99 for the 1styear year, then $ 199/year.