First Subsea to supply pipeline contingency tool for offshore Ichthys LNG project

March 27, 2014
First Subsea Ltd. has won a contract from Saipem Portugal Comercio Maritomo Sociedade Unipresso Lda to supply a 42-in. pipeline recovery tool for the gas export pipeline on the Ichthys LNG project, which is located in the Browse basin offshore Western Australia.

Offshore staff

LANCASHIRE, UKFirst Subsea Ltd. has won a contract from Saipem Portugal Comercio Maritomo Sociedade Unipresso Lda to supply a 42-in. pipeline recovery tool (PRT) for the gas export pipeline on the Ichthys LNG project, which is located in the Browse basin offshore Western Australia. The contingency tool is First Subsea’s largest modular PRT to date, and features a 400Te WLL; Hyperlast twin-seal dewatering system, check valve, pig catcher, pig signaler, and an ROV deployment arm.

TheINPEX-operated Ichthys LNG project includes an offshore central processing facility (CPF) and a floating production storage and offloading facility (FPSO) located in the field with a number of satellite manifolds and subsea wells tied back to the CPF. Saipem is installing 889 km (553 mi) of 42-in.-diameter subsea pipeline, in water depths of up to 275 m (902 ft), connecting the CPF to an onshore processing facility in Darwin, Australia.

The modular PRT system is suitable for pipe or tubular diameters of 42 in., 48 in., 54 in., and 60 in., using First Subsea’s patented Ballgrab ball and taper grip technology for loads in excess of 1,200Te WLL. Guided by an ROV through deployment by the vessel crane, the PRT is inserted into the pipe and a secondary lock system activated through a hydraulic ROV hot stab. After the connection between the A&R wire to the PRT is established, the pipe and tool are then ready for recovery to the surface.

The Ichthys LNG project is a joint venture between INPEX group companies (operator), major partner TOTAL, and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Chubu Electric Power, and Toho Gas.

03/27/2014