Ichthys Explorer arrives in Browse basin

Inpex's Ichthys Explorer, the world's largest semisubmersible platform safely arrived in the Australian waters of the Browse basin, marking a milestone for the Ichthys LNG project.

The Ichthys Explorer. Image from Inpex.

The massive central processing facility (CPF) weighing 120,000-tonne and with topsides measuring 130m by 120m, reached its final destination, 220km off the north coast of Western Australia, where it will be located for 40 years,

“The safe completion of the 5600km tow of the Ichthys Explorer from South Korea to the Ichthys field, located 450km north of Broome, is another significant milestone for the Ichthys LNG project,” said Louis Bon, managing director, Ichthys project.

After the Ichthys Explorer is safely moored in the 250m deep waters of the Ichthys field, hook up and commissioning will begin. The CPF is the central hub for initial offshore processing of all well fluids delivered from an extensive, 130km network of subsea well infrastructure.

Gas from the CPF will be sent through an 890km subsea pipeline to the onshore LNG facility, at Bladin Point, near Darwin for processing. Most condensate and water from the CPF will be transferred to a nearby floating production, storage and offloading facility, the Ichthys Venturer.

The Ichthys LNG project is operated by Inpex (62.245%) alongside major partner Total (30%) and the Australian subsidiaries of CPC Corp. (2.625%), Tokyo Gas (1.575%), Osaka Gas (1.2%), Kansai Electric (1.2%), Jera (0.735%) and Toho Gas (0.42%).

It involves producing and shipping approximately 8.9 million tons of LNG and 1.6 million tons of liquefied petroleum gas per year, along with around 100,000 b/d of condensate at peak. 

Image: Ichthys Explorer sailaway / Inpex

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Inpex CPF sets sail to Ichthys field

LNG

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