Australia Pacific LNG: Construction on Main Pipeline Begins

Australia Pacific LNG: Construction on Main Pipeline Begins

The first sections of more than 530km of steel pipe were welded together earlier this month approximately 15 km south of Miles, marking the start of construction for the Australia Pacific LNG Project’s main transmission pipeline.

This infrastructure will create a vital link for the Project – transporting CSG from the gas fields in the Surat and Bowen basins to an LNG facility currently being developed on Curtis Island, off Gladstone.

Two welding crews consisting of 120 people, including welders and construction support staff, will perform automatic welding both internally and externally, joining pipe up to 18 metres in length. The crews will aim to complete up to 2.25km of pipe per day during construction.

Australia Pacific LNG Pipelines Project Manager Graeme Hogarth said the commencement of construction works is a major milestone for the Project and the culmination of almost three years of planning.

The main transmission pipeline is the third critical component of this major CSG to LNG project and represents a major gear shift in project activity,” Mr Hogarth said.

We expect construction to take approximately 18 months with the pipeline divided into sections. It normally takes between three and six months for the construction stage of each section of the pipeline.”

The welding and construction crews have commenced welding south of Miles and will continue welding along the pipeline route. Pipe will be transported from various laydown yards between Miles and Callide, near Biloela. Construction is expected to be finished in the first half of 2014.

The Australia Pacific LNG Project is an incorporated joint venture project between Origin, ConocoPhillips and Sinopec that includes development of existing coal seam gas fields in the Surat and Bowen basins and construction of a gas transmission pipeline from the gas fields to an LNG facility to be developed on Curtis Island in Gladstone.

The Project will create approximately 6,000 direct jobs during the peak construction phase which includes the gas fields, gas pipeline and LNG facility. It will also create 1,000 jobs during the operation of the Project.

[mappress]
LNG World News Staff, September 25, 2012