McDermott creates ‘world’s largest’ valve for offshore project

Offshore staff

HOUSTON – McDermott engineers have achieved a first; creating the world’s largest forged body specialty valve in collaboration with a valve manufacturer. The valves are destined for the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project.

“The Ichthys Project umbilical, riser, and flowline infrastructure – which will be installed at the Ichthys field offshoreWestern Australia – requires connection of the subsea riser base to the 42-in. gas export pipeline going to the onshore LNG processing facility,” said Jonathan Parkes, McDermott senior project director. “This meant that six 42-in. valves had to be specially designed and fabricated to meet the 40-year design criteria. To our knowledge, these are the world’s largest, single-piece forged, top entry ball valves.”

Each valve measures 9 m (30 ft) in length and 7 m (23 ft) high, and weighs more than 100 metric tons (110 tons). The first valve has been built and tested. A second valve should be deliverable now.

Once all six valves have passed factory testing, two will be installed offshore in 270 m (886 ft) of water, while the remaining four will be installed onshore – one at the landfall block valve and three at the processing facility at Bladin Point.

10/03/2014