The Inpex-led US$34 billion Ichthys LNG project completed the installation of the complex network of subsea infrastructure and equipment at the Ichthys field.
The final laying of 49 kilometers of umbilicals and flying leads on Thursday, January 12, marked the last placement of the subsea network, spread across a 400 square kilometer area of the Ichthys field, in the Browse Basin, about 220 kilometers offshore Western Australia.
Ichthys project managing director Louis Bon said that the project included the installations of a 133,000 ton subsea network.
Included in the subsea gathering system is a 110 meter high riser support structure, five manifolds, 139 kilometers of flowlines, 49 kilometers of umbilicals and flying leads, 2640 tons of production and MEG spools, five subsea distribution units and a subsea distribution hub, according to Inpex.
With the completion of the subsea installation, the Ichthys LNG project is ready for the arrival of the central processing facility (CPF) and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities, currently under commissioning in South Korea.
Once all commissioning activities in the South Korean shipyards are finished, the offshore facilities will be towed to the Ichthys Field and moored for their 40 year operational life by 40,000 tonnes of chain secured to more than 25,000 tonnes of foundation piles.
Ichthys LNG project is scheduled to start production by the third quarter of 2017, and is set to have an annual LNG production capacity 8.9 mtpa.
The project is a joint venture between Inpex, major partner Total, Taiwan’s CPC Corporation and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric, Chubu Electric Power and Toho Gas.