A $US2 billion ($2.2bn) blowout at the Chevron-led Gorgon liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia is a reminder that the LNG sector is still susceptible to cost pressures, despite the easing Australian dollar and increased labour market capacity. Chevron announced early yesterday that Gorgon would now cost $US54bn to build, up from the previous estimate of $US52bn made just over a year ago. The project was initially budgeted to cost $US37bn when it was approved by Chevron and its partners in 2009.