gas export pipeline (gep) -...
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Figure 1: Location of the Ichthys Field, offshore Western Australia, and gas export pipeline route to Blaydin Point, Darwin
F025-AV-FST-00001 | GEP CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION FACT SHEET | MAY 2013 1
Ichthys Project
S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E
INPEX CORPORATION is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company, with more than 70 active projects globally. Since 1966, INPEX has been growing steadily, from the core areas of Indonesia and Australia, into the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and South America.
In Australia from 1986, INPEX has been gaining strategic interests in a range of successful projects, including the Griffin Fields, Darwin LNG and the proposed Ichthys Project.
INPEX is securing the future – future energy supply to our customers, and the future sustainability of the communities in which we operate.
SECURING THE FUTURE
Level 22 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Western Austral ia 6000P +61 8 6213 6000 F +61 8 6213 6455
E enquir [email protected]
Level 8, Mitchell Centre59 Mitchell Street, Darwin
Northern Territory Australia 0800P +61 8 8924 3100 F +61 8 8924 3111
INPE
X314
741
安全第一 “Anzen dai ichi”
Shop 15 Allendale Arcade, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 | P: (08) 9325-5619 | E: [email protected]
“Making a Colourful Impression”
Description of activitiesINPEX, on behalf of the participants in the Ichthys Project Joint Venture, will operate the Ichthys Gas Field Development Project (Ichthys Project). The Ichthys Field is located in production licences WA- 50- L and WA- 51- L in the Browse Basin about 220 km off the north -west coast of Western Australia and 820 km south-west of Darwin. It is made up of two natural gas and condensate reservoirs, Brewster and Plover.
The decision was made in 2008 to process gas from the field at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing plant to be built in Darwin, with the gas to be exported from the field to the plant through an 889 -km -long gas export pipeline (GEP), made up of an 882- km- long subsea section and a 7 -km -long onshore section.
Figure 1 shows the Ichthys Field location and GEP route.
During the Ichthys Field’s projected 40-year life, gas will flow through the 42- inch diameter GEP, to be constructed from more than 70 000 12.5 -m lengths of pipe known as pipe joints. These joints will be made from 30- mm -thick, high -grade steel plate that will be rolled, finished and coated with concrete.
Subsea GEP installation will start with Boskalis Australia Pty Ltd undertaking dredging works in Darwin Harbour, followed by Saipem (Portugal) Comercio Maritimo SU Lda (Saipem) conducting the welding and laying of the subsea pipeline using some of the most sophisticated vessels available today.
When completed in 2015, the Ichthys GEP will be the longest offshore gas pipeline in the southern hemisphere and the fifth -longest gas pipeline in the world.
Gas export pipeline (GEP)Construction of subsea pipeline from Browse Basin to Darwin
F025-AV-FST-00001 | GEP CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION FACT SHEET | MAY 2013 2
Ichthys Project
SchedulePipeline installation will involve a number of vessels and take place over 20 months.
Work is planned to commence in late 2013 with the dredging of the pipeline route through Darwin Harbour and preparation of the landfall site off Wickham Point Road. Pipelay through the Harbour, Territory waters and out into Commonwealth waters will be conducted by Saipem’s shallow-water barge Semac 1. This activity is expected to start in the second quarter of 2014 and will take 2–3 months. Following this, the Saipem Castorone pipelay vessel will commence installation of the remaining 760- km- long deep -water section of pipeline to the Ichthys Field, work that is scheduled to take 9–10 months and is planned to be finished in mid- 2015.
Final precommissioning of the pipeline is estimated to be complete by the end of 2015.
MethodologyPipeline installation can be separated into four distinct phases:
• dredging • shallow-water pipelay and pipeline shore-crossing • deep-water pipelay• pipeline precommissioning.
These phases are explained more fully below.
Dredging
Dredging operations will be confined to the 18 km of pipeline route that runs parallel to the existing Bayu-Undan Gas Pipeline through the western side of Darwin Harbour. These areas are indicated in Figure 2.
The operations will involve the use of a trailing suction hopper dredger, two backhoe dredgers and four split hopper barges to transport the dredge material to the approved spoil disposal area (inset map of Figure 2).
The Queen of the Netherlands trailing suction hopper dredger and the Baldur backhoe dredger that Boskalis will employ are shown in figures 3 and 4 respectively.
Figure 3: Queen of the Netherlands trailing suction hopper dredger
Figure 2: Pipeline route through Darwin Harbour and associated dredging areas
Figure 4: Baldur backhoe dredger
Ichthys Project
S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E
INPEX CORPORATION is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company, with more than 70 active projects globally. Since 1966, INPEX has been growing steadily, from the core areas of Indonesia and Australia, into the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and South America.
In Australia from 1986, INPEX has been gaining strategic interests in a range of successful projects, including the Griffin Fields, Darwin LNG and the proposed Ichthys Project.
INPEX is securing the future – future energy supply to our customers, and the future sustainability of the communities in which we operate.
SECURING THE FUTURE
Level 22 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Western Austral ia 6000P +61 8 6213 6000 F +61 8 6213 6455
E enquir [email protected]
Level 8, Mitchell Centre59 Mitchell Street, Darwin
Northern Territory Australia 0800P +61 8 8924 3100 F +61 8 8924 3111
INPE
X314
741
安全第一 “Anzen dai ichi”
Shop 15 Allendale Arcade, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 | P: (08) 9325-5619 | E: [email protected]
“Making a Colourful Impression”
Figure 6: Shallow-water pipelay operations near Darwin
S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E
INPEX CORPORATION is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company, with more than 70 active projects globally. Since 1966, INPEX has been growing steadily, from the core areas of Indonesia and Australia, into the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and South America.
In Australia from 1986, INPEX has been gaining strategic interests in a range of successful projects, including the Griffin Fields, Darwin LNG and the proposed Ichthys Project.
INPEX is securing the future – future energy supply to our customers, and the future sustainability of the communities in which we operate.
SECURING THE FUTURE
Level 22 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Western Austral ia 6000P +61 8 6213 6000 F +61 8 6213 6455
E enquir [email protected]
Level 8, Mitchell Centre59 Mitchell Street, Darwin
Northern Territory Australia 0800P +61 8 8924 3100 F +61 8 8924 3111
INPE
X314
741
安全第一 “Anzen dai ichi”
Shop 15 Allendale Arcade, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 | P: (08) 9325-5619 | E: [email protected]
“Making a Colourful Impression”
F025-AV-FST-00001 | GEP CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION FACT SHEET | MAY 2013 3
Shallow-water pipelay and pipeline shore-crossing
The pipeline landfall off Wickham Point Road will involve onshore civil works (including trenching) to prepare the site ahead of the arrival of the Semac 1 pipelay barge, an 188- m- long vessel that can accommodate 354 persons. It is equipped with 12 anchors and will initially moor 1.5 km from the landfall. The 12.5-m-long pipe joints will be aligned, welded and tested on board the barge in a continuous process to allow the finished pipeline to be pulled off its stern and the barge to move ahead on its anchors. The Semac 1 is shown in Figure 5.
The pipe route through Darwin Harbour will run 100 m parallel to the existing Bayu–Undan Gas Pipeline, cross four submarine cables and pass within 500 m of a number of heritage wreck sites and environmentally sensitive sites (in accordance with the construction environmental management plan detailed in the Environmental management section of this fact sheet).
Preparation of the route immediately before pipelay will involve the placement of concrete mattresses to allow the pipeline to cross the submarine cables without damage. Soon after pipelay is completed, rock will be placed over the pipeline in the areas where it will be dredged to protect the pipeline from damage in the shallow waters of the Harbour. Both activities involve specialist vessels.
Through the constricted waters of the Harbour, close attention will be given to positioning the pipelay barge’s anchors and to the operation of the support vessels that will supply the barge with the pipe joints.
The shallow-water pipelay operation will extend about 100 km west of Darwin to water depths of approximately 50 m, where the pipeline will be laid down on the seabed. Shallow-water pipelay operations through Darwin Harbour are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5: Semac 1 shallow-water pipelay barge
Ichthys Project
F025-AV-FST-00001 | GEP CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION FACT SHEET | MAY 2013 4
Ichthys ProjectIchthys Project
Deep-water pipelay
The offshore pipeline installation will be performed by the Castorone, the world’s largest pipelay vessel and the latest addition to the Saipem construction fleet. This 330-m vessel was built in late 2012 and can accommodate 720 personnel. It is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment that assembles a triple joint of pipe through an automated welding and handling process below decks, which allows it to lay several kilometres of pipe per day. The vessel moves in a controlled manner using a dynamic positioning system and vessel thrusters to ensure the pipeline is laid accurately, in accordance with its design route. It will be continuously serviced by support vessels delivering pipe joints and supplies. The Castorone is shown in Figure 7. The Castorone will commence deep-water operations by recovering the pipeline from the seabed, after it has been laid down by the shallow-water barge. The vessel will then continue pipelay all the way to the Ichthys Field, where the pipeline will terminate at a pipeline manifold in 255 m of water.
The external condition of the pipeline lying on the seabed will be visually inspected by a remotely operated vehicle from a survey–support vessel to ensure it meets its design specifications. The pipeline will then be filled with treated sea water and held at pressure for a few days to pass mechanical completion. This activity is also the final test in a series of structural and design validation requirements to meet certification by one of the leading classification societies in the maritime industry.
Pipeline precommissioning
This phase involves dewatering, conditioning and rendering the pipeline inert in preparation for the receipt of dehydrated hydrocarbon gas. Dewatering and conditioning will be conducted from the onshore to the offshore end using a train of pipeline pigs that separate alternating batches of monoethylene glycol (MEG—a non-toxic, biodegradable organic compound) and fresh water. Compressed, super-dry air will be used to drive the pipeline pigs and the respective trapped fluids through the pipeline. This process will displace the treated sea water back to the sea, flush out any salts and swab the internal pipe wall to prevent corrosion. A cut-away representation of dewatering and conditioning pipeline pigs is shown in Figure 8.
The precise method of treated-seawater discharge is being engineered to ensure that discharge-plume concentration levels will not affect marine life in the area.
On completion of the hydrotesting the pipeline will be dewatered and then dried and purged using nitrogen.
Regulatory requirementsAn environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Ichthys Project was prepared by INPEX between 2007 and 2010. Environmental approvals under the Environmental Assessment Act (NT) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) were granted by Northern Territory and Commonwealth authorities in May 2011 and June 2011 respectively.
INPEX is required to submit a number of Project environmental plans related to the subsea portion of the GEP. These are currently being prepared and include a dredging and spoil disposal management plan (DSDMP), an onshore and nearshore construction environment management plan (CEMP) and an offshore environment plan (EP). The DSDMP will be submitted to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) and the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA), the CEMP will be submitted to the NT EPA and the EP will be submitted to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).
As the Ichthys Project GEP route will cross both Commonwealth and Northern Territory waters, its construction and operation will be conducted in compliance with all relevant legislation and approvals requirements of both governments.
Figure 7: Saipem’s Castorone deep-water pipelay vessel
Figure 8: Dewatering and conditioning pipeline pigs
Ichthys Project
S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E
INPEX CORPORATION is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company, with more than 70 active projects globally. Since 1966, INPEX has been growing steadily, from the core areas of Indonesia and Australia, into the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and South America.
In Australia from 1986, INPEX has been gaining strategic interests in a range of successful projects, including the Griffin Fields, Darwin LNG and the proposed Ichthys Project.
INPEX is securing the future – future energy supply to our customers, and the future sustainability of the communities in which we operate.
SECURING THE FUTURE
Level 22 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Western Austral ia 6000P +61 8 6213 6000 F +61 8 6213 6455
E enquir [email protected]
Level 8, Mitchell Centre59 Mitchell Street, Darwin
Northern Territory Australia 0800P +61 8 8924 3100 F +61 8 8924 3111
INPE
X314
741
安全第一 “Anzen dai ichi”
Shop 15 Allendale Arcade, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 | P: (08) 9325-5619 | E: [email protected]
“Making a Colourful Impression”
S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E
INPEX CORPORATION is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company, with more than 70 active projects globally. Since 1966, INPEX has been growing steadily, from the core areas of Indonesia and Australia, into the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and South America.
In Australia from 1986, INPEX has been gaining strategic interests in a range of successful projects, including the Griffin Fields, Darwin LNG and the proposed Ichthys Project.
INPEX is securing the future – future energy supply to our customers, and the future sustainability of the communities in which we operate.
SECURING THE FUTURE
Level 22 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Western Austral ia 6000P +61 8 6213 6000 F +61 8 6213 6455
E enquir [email protected]
Level 8, Mitchell Centre59 Mitchell Street, Darwin
Northern Territory Australia 0800P +61 8 8924 3100 F +61 8 8924 3111
INPE
X314
741
安全第一 “Anzen dai ichi”
Shop 15 Allendale Arcade, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 | P: (08) 9325-5619 | E: [email protected]
“Making a Colourful Impression”
F025-AV-FST-00001 | GEP CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION FACT SHEET | MAY 2013 5
Environmental sensitivities
Darwin Harbour and shore crossing
Darwin Harbour is a commercial port that is also used extensively by tourism operators and recreational fishermen.
The enclosed waters of the Harbour received special attention in the Ichthys Project EIS due to the existence of a broad diversity of flora and fauna around the Harbour’s shoreline and in its many inlets and in the rivers running into the Harbour. Marine species found in the Harbour include turtles, dolphins, dugongs, crocodiles and a wide variety of fish. Key marine communities include hard and soft corals, macroalgae and subtidal soft-sediment invertebrate communities.
Mangrove stands and mudflats dominate the intertidal zone throughout the Harbour and also through to the shore -crossing site south of Wickham Point Road. Another environmental consideration in this area is the presence of potential acid sulfate soils and the disturbance of this material during excavation activities. Engineering solutions and management plans shall be implemented to minimise the environmental impact associated with the mangroves and potential acid sulfate soils.
Special attention has been given to modelling tidal flows within the Harbour and monitoring the effects that any dredging-related degradation of water quality may have on surrounding mangroves, corals and areas of seagrass.
Figure 9: Key environmental sensitivities along the Ichthys gas export pipeline route
Information on the Project’s current construction operations and environmental monitoring program in the Darwin area can be found on the website, www.ichthysproject.com.
Offshore pipeline route
Outside Northern Territory waters the pipeline route crosses the Bonaparte Gulf, which comprises a silty seabed that gradually increases in depth from 30 to 115 m before gently shoaling to 70 m on the western side of the gulf. The pipeline route will round the top of the Kimberley coast 100 km north of Cape Londonderry in an area of predominantly sandy seabed, before heading south- west over a silty clay seabed gradually increasing in depth to 250 m.
The route crosses the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve, a multiple-use zone declared in November 2012, then passes 10 km north -west of Echuca Shoal and a seabed escarpment (see Figure 9). These areas are unlikely to be affected by the activities of the Castorone construction barge.
In its final stages, the pipeline will pass 15 km north of Browse Island, a Western Australian Class C nature reserve that lies approximately 33 km south -east of the Ichthys Field.
Ichthys Project
0 100 200
kilometres
F025-AV-FST-00001 | GEP CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION FACT SHEET | MAY 2013 6
Ichthys ProjectIchthys Project
Offshore marine fauna
The pipeline route is more than 200 km to the north of Camden Sound and adjacent whale calving areas (marked in Figure 9) and although whales may be found off the coast they are generally few in number. The pipelay barge will be slow-moving, while support vessels will be operating from Darwin and East Timor and will observe appropriate cetacean management measures.
Turtle nesting beaches, breeding and feeding areas occur at the western end of the pipeline route near Browse Island, where green turtles carry out nesting activities between October and February. The remainder of the route is more than 100 km offshore and environmental surveys conducted by INPEX in offshore Kimberley waters since 2004 suggest that large numbers of turtles are not expected to be present.
The spotted bottlenose dolphin and Indo -Pacific humpback dolphin are widespread around the Australian coast and predominantly live in coastal waters. Recent surveys have also recorded the Australian snubfin dolphin in the estuarine environment of Darwin Harbour. However, INPEX environmental surveys indicate that few dolphins are expected to be encountered along the offshore pipeline route.
Sharks, including whale sharks, may transit the area of the pipeline route in October to February each year. Pipelay barges and other support vessels will observe appropriate management measures.
Environmental managementPipeline installation will be managed in accordance with mitigation measures detailed in environmental plans, will be consistent with EIS commitments and approvals conditions and will include the following:
Marine fauna management: The management standards and guidance contained in EPBC Act Policy Statement 2.1 will be met. INPEX will also ensure compliance with Part 8 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Cwlth), which deals specifically with vessel interactions with cetaceans. Environment plans will also document management measures for other species such as whale sharks and turtles.
Quarantine and biofouling management: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s biosecurity management requirements will be met. Biofouling risk will be managed in accordance with the recommendations described in the National biofouling management guidance for the petroleum production and exploration industry.
Oil and chemical discharges: All bilge discharges will meet the requirements of the PSPPS Act. Where required, vessels will have tested shipboard oil pollution emergency plans (SOPEPs) in place. Oil spill contingency planning and response capability for activities will be managed in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Waste management: Waste minimisation measures will be put in place and waste disposal management will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 (Cwlth) (PSPPS Act).
Emergency response: An emergency response plan will be developed to ensure that the appropriate procedures are in place during the pipelay operations.
Socio-economic impact mitigation: This will include early consultation with the relevant stakeholders in the fishing and shipping industries as well as the formal process of arranging for the issue of “Notices to Mariners” throughout the period of pipeline installation.
Construction environmental management plan: This shall detail the management protection measures and controls to be implemented for the onshore and nearshore activities to avoid, reduce or mitigate any environmental or heritage impacts during the construction and installation of the pipeline in Darwin Harbour.
Enquiries and feedback Your views are important to us and we welcome your feedback on our proposed GEP construction activities.
All communications will be logged, assessed and acknowledged with a response.
If you would like to provide comment or seek further information, or if you do not wish to receive further communications regarding Ichthys GEP activities, please contact us by e-mail or by any of the following means:
Contact: Bill Townsend General Manager, External Affairs and Joint Venture
Subject: GEP construction
E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (08) 6213 6000Fax: (08) 6213 6455Post: Attention: General Manager, External Affairs Level 22, 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
The Ichthys Project is operated by INPEX in joint venture with major partner Total and Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Chubu Electric Power Company and Toho Gas.
Ichthys Project
S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E
INPEX CORPORATION is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company, with more than 70 active projects globally. Since 1966, INPEX has been growing steadily, from the core areas of Indonesia and Australia, into the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and South America.
In Australia from 1986, INPEX has been gaining strategic interests in a range of successful projects, including the Griffin Fields, Darwin LNG and the proposed Ichthys Project.
INPEX is securing the future – future energy supply to our customers, and the future sustainability of the communities in which we operate.
SECURING THE FUTURE
Level 22 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Western Austral ia 6000P +61 8 6213 6000 F +61 8 6213 6455
E enquir [email protected]
Level 8, Mitchell Centre59 Mitchell Street, Darwin
Northern Territory Australia 0800P +61 8 8924 3100 F +61 8 8924 3111
INPE
X314
741
安全第一 “Anzen dai ichi”
Shop 15 Allendale Arcade, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 | P: (08) 9325-5619 | E: [email protected]
“Making a Colourful Impression”