ABB has signed an agreement with Inpex to provide services to ensure equipment uptime and optimization of LNG production at the latter’s Ichthys project in Australia.
Image: Ichthys LNG Project’s central processing facility. Photo: courtesy of Inpex.
Currently under construction, the Ichthys LNG project will have capacity to produce 8.9 million tons of LNG and 1.6 million tons of LPG per annum, along with more than 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak.
ABB said: “Described as three mega projects in one, the Ichthys LNG Project incorporates some of the world’s most advanced offshore facilities located 220km off the West Australian coast along with massive onshore processing facilities in Darwin and an 890km subsea pipeline to unite them.”
The firm said that the project comprises $200m worth of ABB’s electrification and automation equipment across onshore and offshore project components, including highly critical equipment in the gas processing plant.
Under the five-year agreement, ABB will provide Inpex with ease and convenience of dealing with a single entity for services, products and around-the-clock support for the LNG project.
Inpex expects to receive additional technical support and services, including electrical asset management, remote and condition monitoring, predictive analytics and alarm management applications.
ABB said that the extending equipment asset lifetimes to reduce capital expenditures, along with maintenance and operational costs is critical, as the project will have an operational life of 40 years.
The scope of deal includes support services for ABB’s equipment to facilitate the main power distribution for the onshore dual train LNG processing facility near Darwin. This facility liquefies the gas collected from the offshore field.
Additionally, ABB will provide support for the electrical power distribution for the entire floating production, storage and offloading facility, Ichthys Venturer and the semi-submersible central processing facility, Ichthys Explorer.
The Ichthys LNG Project is jointly owned by Inpex, Total, CPC Corporation Taiwan and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, JERA and Toho Gas.