Blacktip is 110km off the coast. See:...

Blacktip is 110km off the coast.

See: http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/blacktip-gas-field-timor/

Petrel is at least the same distance further beyond Blacktip.

See map below at http://www.petroleum-acreage.gov.au...rea-maps/Release_Area_Map-Southern_Petrel.jpg

The mileage is not shown but it is obvious that Petrel is around 110 km  further seaward to the north with no existing pipeline. Indeed it is closer to the Ichthys pipeline (started May 2014 – still not finished) than it is to the Blacktip pipe.

Partners of the Petrel field include GDF Suez (60%), Santos (35%) and Origin Energy (5%). GDF Suez and Santos own the Tern and Frigate fields 60% and 40% respectively.

So I think it is reasonable to dismiss any chance of ENI activating any production from Petrel, Tern or Frigate inside 5 years given that it would need to buy the fields, establish sea bed production nodules and install a pipeline.

The question that remains outstanding is whether GDF Suez and Santos might want to bring those fields into production. Even if they do its still reasonable to say that they could not possibly turn off first gas before 4 years down the track. The Australian customers need their supply long before that time.

As for ENI ramping up Blacktip production, it can only do that at the risk of breaching its 25 year contract with the NT Government by which it must deliver 30 PJ pa.