(EnergyAsia, January 31 2012, Tuesday) — Chevron Corp has made another natural gas discovery in Western Australia, boosting its plans to become a leading global liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer.

The US major said its Australian subsidiary found natural gas in the Exmouth Plateau area of the Carnarvon Basin, its 13th offshore discovery in the country since 2009.

The company encountered gas 74 meters in the Satyr-3 well located 182 km north of Exmouth in the WA-374-P permit area after drilling to a depth of 4,075 metres in over 1.12 km of water.

George Kirkland, Chevron’s vice chairman, said Satyr-3 reinforces the quality and value of its exploration lease holdings in the Carnarvon Basin.

Melody Meyer, president of Chevron Asia Pacific Exploration and Production Company, said:

“The Satyr-3 discovery adds to our Australian resource base, further supporting our long-term plans to position Chevron as one of the world’s leading LNG suppliers.”

Chevron’s Australian subsidiary is the operator of the WA-374-P permit area and holds a 50% interest, with Exxon Mobil and Shell each holding 25%.