The main gas pipeline for the Queensland Curtis LNG Project is in the ground, completing a two-year task over more than 540km to lay the longest large-diameter buried pipeline in Australia.
The final kilometre of the 1m-diameter pipeline has been laid near Biloela in central Queensland, with crews expected to complete integrity tests in the next few weeks.
This will be followed by rehabilitation of the pipeline easement.
The pipeline was laid by construction contractor MCJV, a joint venture between McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd and Consolidated Contracting Company Australia Pty Ltd.
When commissioned this year, the pipeline will transport natural gas from QGC’s tenements in the Surat Basin to the QCLNG plant on Curtis Island near Gladstone where the gas will be liquefied for export.
The pipeline comprises about 200km from Dalby to Wandoan and more than 340km from the gas fields to Curtis Island.
Facilities north of Miles and on Curtis Island are being finalised to regulate gas flow through the pipeline.
QGC Managing Director Derek Fisher said the milestone represented a world-class engineering feat.
“ This is a tremendous achievement, meaning we remain on track to start commissioning the world’s first plant to convert natural gas from coal seams into liquefied natural gas next year ,” he said.
“ In the process we have set records for Australian pipeline construction, including the longest twin pipe-pull in Australia when The Narrows channel at Curtis Island was crossed earlier this year. ” Pipeline facts
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, October 22, 2013; Image: QGC