ABB wins $15m oil and gas electricals order in Australia 21 March 2013

ABB has been appointed the main electrical contractor for a new semi-submersible CPF (central processing facility) at the Ichthys oil and gas field in the Timor Sea off Western Australia.

The order – from engineering, procurement and construction contractor Samsung Heavy Industries – is worth $15 million and, when complete in 2016, the CPF will be the largest offshore production facility in the world.

ABB was selected for its ability to provide an integrated, small-footprint electrical solution for the entire CPF. The system will include high-voltage air and gas insulated switchgear, low voltage switchboards, and liquid-filled and dry-type transformers.

Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division, explains that the company will also be responsible for design, engineering, installation, commissioning and project management.

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," he states.

Gas from the Ichthys oil and gas field, which is expected to deliver an operational life of more than 40 years, will undergo preliminary processing at the offshore CPF to remove water and raw liquids.

The condensate will be pumped to a FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading) vessel anchored nearby, from which it will be transferred to tankers. Meanwhile, the gas will be transported via an 885km pipeline to an onshore LNG (liquefied natural gas) 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

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
ABB Ltd

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.