The 18 million tonnes per annum (MMt/a) Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) Project experienced the latest in a number of exciting developments when MCJV, a joint venture between McConnell Dowell Constructors and Consolidated Contracting Company Australia, commenced construction of the 444 km main export pipeline and associated facilities in early September 2011.
The commencement of construction on the 1,070 mm diameter gas pipeline and associated facilities follows MCJV’s completion of the front-end engineering design (FEED) and early works contract, which was awarded in December 2009. Project parameters APLNG is a joint venture between Origin Energy, ConocoPhillips and Sinopec. The project includes the development of a four-train CSG-to-LNG project utilising Origin’s Queensland CSG reserves.
Origin will act as the upstream CSG operator and ConocoPhillips will be the downstream LNG operator, with the joint venture company to market the LNG.
The APLNG Project involves a main pipeline system, which will transport dehydrated and compressed CSG from the gas fields in the Surat and Bowen basins to the LNG processing plant, to be located at Laird Point on Curtis Island, off Gladstone. The APLNG pipeline system will include two lateral pipelines, 44 km and 38 km in length, connecting the Condabri and Woleebee developments, respectively, with the main pipeline.
Beginning east of the Wandoan at the junction of the two lateral pipelines, the main pipeline will run north through the Banana Shire, before turning east toward Gladstone, with a marine crossing
at The Narrows. The pipeline will be buried to a depth of 750 mm.
The final route is the result of extensive studies and surveys, including topography, ecology, geology and cultural heritage, landowner consultation and stakeholder negotiations. Origin will continue to act as the local liaison point for landholders on
behalf of proponent APLNG.
The pipeline will be constructed with API 5L X70 steel and externally coated with dual-layer fusion-bonded epoxy.
McConnell Dowell General Manager Pipeline Mark Tywcross said “MCJV will have a peak workforce of more than 1,000 people and will deliver the large diameter gas pipeline and associated facilities over a two-year construction program.”? Construction of the pipeline is expected to take approximately 18 months and is proposed to begin by mid-2012.
Positive developments
The project’s environmental impact statement was approved last year by the Queensland and Federal Governments, in what APLNG Project Director Page Maxson calls a significant milestone in realising its potential benefits. Mr Maxson says, “The stringent conditions contained in the Co-ordinator- General’s report… should give the community confidence that the project will meet the high standards required during constructions and operation.
“The project will form part of a burgeoning world-scale, long-term industry in Queensland, utilising APLNG’s substantial CSG resources in the Surat and Bowen basins,”? he says