Construction begins on last major offshore facility (FPSO) for Ichthys

The INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project (the Project) cut first steel yesterday (18 June 2013) for the hull of its Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility in Okpo, Korea.

With fabrication of the hull underway, work on all of the Project’s major offshore facilities has commenced.

The FPSO is being built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The vessel will be used for condensate dewatering, stabilisation, storage and export.

Speaking at the ceremony at the DSME shipyard, INPEX Ichthys LNG Project Director Offshore Claude Cahuzac said the steel cutting marked a major milestone.

“Starting fabrication on the FPSO hull means that work is now underway on all major offshore facilities – this includes the Central Processing Facility, subsea structures and the Gas Export Pipeline,” Mr Cahuzac said.

“It marks the culmination of years of engineering work and close collaboration with our contractors.”

“It is fantastic to celebrate this milestone, on schedule, as we work towards delivering first gas by the end of 2016.”

The FPSO will be permanently moored for the life of the Project to the seabed in the Browse Basin, offshore Western Australia.

Condensate will be offloaded periodically to crude oil tankers and shipped directly to market.