Australia: Van Oord Nabs Ichthys Dredging Contract

Van Oord has been awarded a significant dredging contract in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia.

This contract forms part of the Ichthys LNG Project, a joint venture between INPEX (operator) and TOTAL. INPEX is Van Oord’s client. The value of the contract amounts to EUR 567 million. Execution of the project starts in August 2012 and is scheduled for completion in April 2014.

Gas from the Ichthys Field, in the Browse Basin approximately 200 km offshore of Western Australia, will undergo preliminary processing offshore to remove water and extract condensate. The gas will then be exported to onshore processing facilities in Darwin via an 889 km subsea pipeline.

The Ichthys LNG Project is expected to produce 8.4 million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of LPG per annum, along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak. Extension of the Darwin Harbour shipping channel and dredging of berth pockets are required to allow large product tankers to gain access to the proposed LNG facility at Blaydin Point.

Van Oord will dredge approximately15 million cubic metres of mainly hard soil. The works will be carried out by a large self-propelled cutter suction dredger, three large trailing suction hopper dredgers and two large backhoe dredgers.

In order to limit the impacts of the works on the environment a Dredging and Spoil Disposal Management Plan is being prepared that provides environmental guidelines for the execution of the dredging and spoil disposal works.

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Dredging Today Staff, June 11, 2012