Japan’s Inpex has informed that the central processing platform for the Ichthys gas field has arrived in the Australian waters of the Browse Basin today.
The massive Ichthys Explorer platform weighing 120,000 tonnes and with topsides measuring 130 meters by 120 meters, is considered the world’s largest semi-submersible platform.
The Ichthys Explorer reached its final offshore destination, 220 kilometers off the north coast of Western Australia, where it will be located for 40 years.
“The safe completion of the 5,600 kilometer tow of the Ichthys Explorer from South Korea to the Ichthys Field, located 450 kilometers north of Broome, is another significant milestone for the Ichthys LNG Project,” Louis Bon , Managing Director, Ichthys Project stated.
“The successful 34 day tow is a tribute to our world-class processes and the commitment of our personnel from around the globe” Bon said. After the Ichthys Explorer is safely moored in the 250-meter deep waters of the Ichthys Field, hook up and commissioning will begin.
The CPF is the central hub for initial offshore processing of all well fluids delivered from an extensive, 130-kilometers network of subsea well infrastructure.
Gas from the CPF will be sent though an 890-kilometer subsea pipeline to the onshore LNG facility, at Bladin Point, near Darwin for processing.
Most condensate and water from the CPF will be transferred to a nearby floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO), the Ichthys Venturer.
“The Ichthys LNG Project incorporates some of the world’s largest and most advanced offshore facilities with a continuous operating life of 40 years,” Bon said.