ABB main electrical contractor for world’s largest offshore central processing facility

ABB has been appointed the main electrical contractor (MEC) for a new semi-submersible central processing facility (CPF) at the Ichthys oil and gas field in the Timor Sea off Western Australia. The order is valued at $15 million. ABB was awarded the MEC contract by the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the central processing facility, Samsung Heavy Industries. When completed in 2016 the CPF will be the largest offshore production facility in the world.

The Ichthys oil and gas field is estimated to contain 12.8 trillion cubic feet of gas and 527 million barrels of condensate, and have an operational life of more than 40 years. Gas from the field will undergo preliminary processing at the offshore CPF to remove water and raw liquids, including a large proportion of the condensate. The condensate will be pumped to a floating production, storage and off-loading (FPSO) vessel anchored nearby, from which it will be transferred to tankers for delivery to markets. The gas will be transported from the CPF through an 885 km pipeline to an onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing plant near Darwin, Australia.

The Ichthys oil and gas project will have an initial production capacity of 8.4 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas and 1.6 million metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas a year, as well as about 100,000 barrels of condensate a day at peak. The $32 billion project is a joint venture between Japan-based Inpex Corporation and Total E&P Australia.

ABB was selected for its ability to provide a complete and integrated electrical solution for the entire central processing facility. The solution has an exceptionally compact footprint and comprises a comprehensive range of ABB power products and systems, including high-voltage air and gas insulated switchgear, low-voltage switchboards, and liquid-filled and dry-type transformers. ABB is also responsible for design, engineering, installation, commissioning and project management.

“We are delighted to have been selected as a principal supplier for one of the largest and most prestigious projects in Australia’s growing oil and gas industry,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “Our ability to provide a complete and integrated electrical solution, coupled with our extensive local resources and track record in similar oil and gas projects in Australia, were key to our winning this order.”

This is the second major contract that ABB has been awarded for the Ichthys oil and gas project. In 2012, ABB won orders worth $80 million to supply power technologies and medium-voltage drive systems for the new onshore LNG processing plant near Darwin.