First
gas flows into new North West Shelf trunkline
Posted: 16 February 2004
First gas has begun flowing into one of the world’s biggest
offshore pipelines as Woodside, operator of the North West Shelf
Venture, starts commissioning the line as part of LNG expansion
at Karratha in Western Australia.
The new A$800 million, 42-inch (1,067 millimetre) diameter trunkline,
the second major line to feed gas into the Karratha plant, will
undergo a proving period before gas is produced into LNG at the
Venture’s onshore gas plant.
The trunkline complements the original 40-inch (1,016 millimetre)
trunkline which has been operating since 1984, linking the Venture’s
three offshore gas production facilities, about 130 kilometres north-west
of Karratha, to onshore gas processing facilities on the Burrup
Peninsula.
The trunkline is the biggest installed in Australia and one of
the biggest in the world, adding significant capacity for increased
gas production for both LNG and domestic gas users.
The trunkline more than doubles the Venture's offshore production
capacity to transport gas from its offshore production platforms
to its onshore processing facilities from 1,650 million standard
cubic feet a day (46.7 million cubic metres a day) to 3,850 million
standard cubic feet a day (110.7 million cubic metres a day).
The North West Shelf Venture Chief Executive Officer, Steve Ollerearnshaw,
said the gas flow marked another historic day in the development
of the North West Shelf project.
"The new trunkline underpins the Venture’s commitment
to reliable gas production and supply and gives us the basis for
further expansion,” Mr Ollerearnshaw said.
"The trunkline gives us a greater degree of reliability and
flexibility, particularly when maintenance is required on the different
facilities, as we will now be able to direct gas produced by our
offshore facilities through either one or both of the trunklines.
"The installation and commissioning of this facility in a
harsh and difficult offshore environment is testament to the skills
and dedication of all those involved.
“It is a magnificent achievement that further secures the
North West Shelf Venture’s position as a world-class international
hydrocarbon producing operation."
Construction of the trunkline began in 2002 and was completed on
schedule and within budget.
It is an integral part of the current expansion of the Venture’s
onshore gas processing facilities. At the peak of installation,
more than 400 people were employed offshore.
The expansion also includes a fourth LNG processing train and associated
infrastructure. The A$1.6 billion fourth train is scheduled for
completion in mid-2004. It will have a capacity of 4.2 million tonnes
a year and will increase the Venture's LNG production capability
to nearly 12 million tonnes a year.
The six equal participants in the North West Shelf Venture are:
Woodside Energy Ltd. (operator); BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West
Shelf) Pty Ltd; BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd; Chevron Australia
Pty Ltd; Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd; and Shell Development
(Australia) Proprietary Limited.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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