INPEX: First LPG Shipment Departs Ichthys LNG

INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project has commenced shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the onshore gas liquefaction plant in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Undertaken by the LPG carrier Hellas Gladiator, the first shipment of LPG departed Darwin on November 16, 2018, and is destined to an Asian buyer, according to INPEX.

As informed, the project is scheduled to produce approximately 1.65 million tons of LPG per year along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day, at peak.

On October 1, the first shipment of condensate from the Ichthys LNG Project departed from the offshore floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO) Ichthys Venturer.

The project also commenced shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on October 23, 2018.

The Ichthys LNG Project hosted an event in Darwin on November 16, 2018, marking the commencement of project operations. The celebration officially opened the LNG processing facilities of Ichthys LNG.

The project is scheduled to gradually increase its LNG production volume and produce approximately 8.9 million tons of LNG per year. As approximately 70% of the LNG produced by the project is scheduled to be supplied to Japanese customers, INPEX said it will further contribute to the stable supply of energy to Japan through the project and continue to respond to the energy demand in Asia and the rest of the world.

The Ichthys LNG Project is a large-scale LNG project expected to be operational over a period of 40 years. In 1998, INPEX acquired an exploration permit in the block where the Ichthys Gas-condensate Field is located, and following development studies including exploration, evaluation and FEED work, the company announced its final investment decision (FID) in January 2012.

Following the construction of the required facilities, the project commenced production of gas from the wellhead in July 2018 and thereafter commenced shipment of products in sequence.