Ichthys completes subsea installation

Written on the 16 January 2017

INPEX today announced the successful installation completion of the complex network of subsea infrastructure and equipment to safely and efficiently extract gas and condensate from the Ichthys Field for the world-leading Ichthys LNG Project.

The final laying of 49 kilometres of umbilicals and flying leads yesterday, marked the last placement of an intricate subsea network, spread across a 400 square kilometre area  of the Ichthys Field, in the Browse Basin, about 220 kilometres offshore Western Australia.

Ichthys Project Managing Director Louis Bon described the safe execution of a number of installation campaigns to complete the subsea infrastructure milestone on schedule as an "outstanding achievement".

"Since October 2014, hundreds of people have worked offshore without any significant safety incidents to install the Ichthys LNG Project's 133,000 tonne subsea network," he said.

"Carrying out this work more than 200 kilometres out to sea in water depths of around 250 metres involves substantial planning and logistical challenges to manage crew changes and equipment transportation."

"Safely completing these complex tasks is a tribute to the world-class processes we have in place and the commitment of our personnel to ensure the protection of our people and the environment."

Included in the extensive subsea gathering system is a 110 metre high riser support structure, five manifolds, 139 kilometres of flowlines, 49 kilometres of umbilicals and flying leads, 2640 tonnes of production and MEG spools, five subsea distribution units and a subsea distribution hub.  

Finalising the subsea installation, a key milestone, signified the Project was now 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.

The Ichthys LNG Projectin essence three mega projects in oneincorporates some of the world's biggest and most advanced offshore facilities off the Western Australian coast, massive onshore processing facilities in the Northern Territory, and an 890 kilometre pipeline to unite them.

Note: A remaining umbilical will be installed during the CPF and FPSO hook-up campaign.