Australia-based firm MEO is seeking to develop an offshore liquefaction plant in the Timor Sea. MEO plans to begin preliminary design work in early 2008 for the plant and a final investment decision could be reached by the end of 2008. The scope of the USD 3 billion project will include offshore Timor Sea natural gas well development and construction of a 3.0–million-metric-ton-per-year liquefaction plant. The plant would be located 170mi offshore north of Darwin, Australia. Drilling of two appraisal wells in MEO’s NT-P68 block will commence during the week of 8 October.