QGC Pty has awarded a contract worth more than A$200 million over five years for regular maintenance on gasfield and pipeline facilities of the Queensland Curtis LNG Project.
Under the contract, Transfield Services will support daily operational checks on equipment from the Surat Basin to The Narrows in Gladstone.
Transfield Services’ qualified mechanical, electrical and instrument technicians will also conduct scheduled maintenance such as equipment cleaning and minor repairs.
Their work will help to ensure the safe operation of above-ground equipment such as well heads, natural gas processing and compression facilities, water storage ponds and the project’s 540km underground pipeline network.
Demand for Transfield Services’ maintenance and operations employees will rise to a peak of up to 300 late in 2015.
The contract runs from January 2013 until 2017 and includes an option for an extension.
Transfield Services will open an operational base, including a workshop for fabrication and repairs, in Chinchilla.
QGC Managing Director Derek Fisher said QGC and Transfield Services were committed to employing local people and using local suppliers of goods and services where possible.
“Using local businesses keeps skilled workers in regional areas, provides local employment and allows businesses to grow,” Mr Fisher said.
“Across Queensland local communities are experiencing the benefit of QGC’s spending on the construction phase of QCLNG.
“This contract demonstrates that once we are operating our project, these same communities will benefit in the long-term from spending on maintenance.”
About half of capital expenditure on QCLNG until 2014 will be spent in Australia and about 80% of operating expenditure will be spent in Australia from 2014.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, November 08, 2012; Image: QGC