2. Our partners
The lchthys LNG Project is a joint venture
between Operator INPEX, major partner
TOTAL and the Australian subsidiaries of
Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Chubu Electric Power
and Toho Gas.
This world-class project has captured the
imagination of the oil and gas industry and the
Ichthys team has attracted professionals from
all over the globe to work in Project locations
from Perth to Geoje, Yokohama, Batam,
Darwin, Singapore and Aberdeen.
Drawing on vast industry experience, joint
venture partnerships, a financially secure
Project, strong values and the confidence that
we can meet the challenges ahead – INPEX
Australia has assembled a world-class team to
deliver the Ichthys LNG Project.
Timeline
›› 1998: Acquisition of exploration permit
WA-285-P by INPEX CORPORATION.
›› 2000-2001: INPEX drills three exploratory
wells in WA-285-P, confirming the Ichthys
Field has promising resources of natural gas
and condensate.
›› 2006: Long-standing business partner and
oil and gas super major TOTAL acquires a 26
per cent participating interest in the Project.
›› 2008: Darwin is announced as the preferred
onshore location for the lchthys LNG Project
onshore processing facilities.
›› 2011: The Project’s Environmental Impact
Statement is approved.
›› 2012: A Final Investment Decision gives the
green light for the US$34 billion Project,
followed by the securing of US$20 billion in
project financing – the biggest ever arranged
on the international financial markets.
›› 2013: Work commences on fabrication of
all major onshore and offshore facilities and
889 kilometres of pipe is manufactured.
Manigurr-ma village opens near Darwin, to
accommodate up to 3,500 workers during
peak construction.
›› 2016: First production is scheduled to start
by late 2016 with an expected operational
life of at least 40 years.
3. Working the field
To extract gas and condensate
from the lchthys Field, wells will
be drilled in the Browse Basin.
Subsea production systems,
which sit on top of the wells and
control the flow of hydrocarbons,
will connect to a series of
umbilicals, risers and flowlines –
taking gas and condensate to a
floating, semi-submersible central
processing facility nearby.
Offshore processing
Natural gas and condensate
from the Field’s subsea wells
will undergo initial processing
on the large, floating central
processing facility (CPF), which
will be permanently moored near
the Field. The CPF will extract
condensate and water and
remove impurities at the earliest
opportunity to make the gas and
some condensate suitable for
transmission through the gas
export pipeline.
Most condensate will be
transferred from the CPF to
the nearby floating production,
storage and offloading facility
(FPSO) for offshore processing.
Condensate export
The floating production, storage
and offloading facility (FPSO) will
be moored about 3.5 kilometres
from the CPF. It will process and
store condensate from the CPF
and periodically offload stabilised
condensate to shuttle carriers for
export directly to market.
The FPSO is designed to hold
more than one million barrels
of condensate and – like the
CPF – has the capacity to
accommodate a workforce
of about 150.
Connecting the field
to Darwin
A gas export pipeline (GEP) will
deliver gas and some condensate
from the CPF to the onshore
processing facilities at Bladin
Point near Darwin so that it
can be prepared for export.
At 889 kilometres, the lchthys
LNG Project GEP will be one
of the longest subsea pipelines
ever built.
Onshore processing
The onshore processing facilities
near Darwin will cool gas from
the pipeline and transform it into
liquid to reduce its volume for
transport. Onshore facilities will
include: two LNG trains, LPG
and condensate plants, product
storage tanks, administration
facilities, utilities and a jetty.
A peak workforce of more than
4,000 is needed to complete
the onshore facilities at Bladin
Point, which are currently under
construction. The majority of
the temporary construction
fly-in-fly-out workforce will live
in the purpose-built Manigurr-ma
Village near Darwin that was
opened in 2013.
LNG and LPG transport
The lchthys LNG Project will
require three LNG carriers
and one LPG carrier to export
product from Darwin Harbour
each week as well as one or two
condensate carriers each month.
The LNG carriers are heavily
insulated to keep gas liquefied
as it is transported to market.
Overview
Effectively three mega-
projects rolled into one, the
lchthys LNG Project involves
some of the industry’s largest
and most advanced offshore
facilities, significant onshore
infrastructure and an 889
kilometre pipeline to unite
them. The Project has an
expected operational life of
at least 40 years.
The Ichthys LNG Project
As Australia moves to take its place as one of the world’s biggest
LNG exporters by 2020, the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project
stands as one of the country’s most exciting and challenging
developments.
The Ichthys Field was the largest discovery of hydrocarbon liquids
in Australia in 40 years and the Ichthys LNG Project ranks among
the largest and most significant energy projects in the world.
The Project includes some of the world’s biggest and most
advanced offshore facilities, massive onshore processing facilities
near Darwin in the Northern Territory and an 889 kilometre
pipeline to unite them. Each of these three components is a
mega-project in its own right and construction is progressing
strongly, with first production scheduled for the end of 2016.
When operational, 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.
Strategically partnering with leading companies and contractors
in the oil and gas industry, the Project has attracted the world’s
best, uniting them with the singular vision of bringing one of
Australia’s largest resources projects to life.
With the security of having delivered the biggest project financing
ever arranged in the international markets and with sales and
purchase agreements already in place, the volume and value of
Ichthys LNG Project reserves will supply customers with energy
for more than 40 years.
In Australia, the Project is already delivering considerable benefits,
including new business opportunities, major new and improved
infrastructure and expanded economic, employment and training
outcomes that will continue for generations.
Browse Basin Ichthys
Darwin
The Browse Basin
Covering 140,000 square kilometres, the
Browse Basin is one of the world’s most
exciting and prospective exploration areas, and
contains some of Australia’s largest gas fields.
Located about 220 kilometres offshore
Western Australia and 820 kilometres south-
west of Darwin, the Ichthys Field covers an
area of around 800 square kilometres in water
averaging depths of around 250 metres.
The Ichthys Field is estimated to contain more
than 12 trillion cubic feet of gas and 500 million
barrels of condensate.
4. Our people
With an expected operational life of at least
40 years, the lchthys LNG Project offers rare,
multi-generational opportunities to communities,
economies, businesses, energy markets and its
own workforce.
The Project has attracted people who have the will
power to make things happen. They value courage,
determination, integrity, diversity, mutual respect,
collaboration and ingenuity.
More than 4,000 people are needed for peak
construction on the LNG facilities near Darwin and
thousands more are currently working in fabrication
roles. A growing operations team is actively preparing
for start-up and searching for the right people to
join the Project for onshore and offshore post-
construction roles.
As the operator of the Ichthys LNG Project, INPEX is
committed to contributing to the development of
host countries and communities wherever it
Ichthys
Project
INPEX Australia
Level 22, 100 St Georges Terrace
Perth, Western Australia 6000
T: +61 8 6213 6000
F: +61 8 6213 6455
E: enquiries@inpex.com.au
W: INPEX.com.au
operates. INPEX believes in providing benefits
to these communities and contributing to their
sustainable social, economic and environmental
development.
Identifying and providing opportunities for local
businesses and local people, including Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples is part of this
commitment.
INPEX has also committed to full, fair and reasonable
opportunity for Australian industry to take part in
the Project and is committed to getting it right
by building effective partnerships through active
engagement and consultation.
INPEX promotes a safe and harmonious
workplace culture in Australia. 安全第一
Anzen Dai Ichi – Safety Number One is a goal, key
behaviour, and commitment linked to INPEX’s health,
safety and environmental values.
The Ichthys LNG Project is a Joint Venture between INPEX group companies (the Operator), major partner
TOTAL and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Chubu Electric Power and Toho Gas.
