The CPF has been launched from the offshore floating dock at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, where it is being developed.
Inpex Australia president director Seiya Ito said: "This milestone is a clear demonstration that the Ichthys LNG project is making good progress and that we are working in an excellent spirit of cooperation with our Korean contractors."
Commenced building in January 2013, the CPF will be towed 5600km to the Ichthys Field in the Browse Basin, offshore Western Australia, once completed.
According to the firm, the CPF will be permanently moored for the life of the project, which may be for around 40 years.
Ichthys LNG project managing director Louis Bon said: "The CPF is now berthed quayside at the shipyard where work is continuing to lift and install the living quarters and integrate and commission all equipment in preparation for the CPF’s sail away."
In May this year, mooring installation began at the Ichthys field in the Browse Basin about 220km offshore Western Australia, as part of the offshore installation campaign of the Ichthys LNG project.
The Ichthys LNG project is a joint venture between Inpex group companies, Total group companies and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Chubu Electric Power and Toho Gas.
As per the initial plan the project was designed to produce 8.4 million tonnes of LNG a year and 1.6 million tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas a year, as well as peak production of around 100,000 barrels of condensate per day.
Earlier this month, the company said that it would raise the ouput from the facility from 8.4 million onnes per year (tpy) to 8.9 million tpy.
Inpex said that it will delay the starting of the project to July-September 2017, from earlier schedule of 2016 end.
In April, Kongsberg Oil & Gas Technologies secured a contract from Saipem to deliver subsea structures for the gas export pipeline project of the Inpex -operated Ichthys LNG project in Australia.
Image: The Inpex-operated has launched central processing facility rom the offshore floating dock at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea. Photo: courtesy of INPEX CORPORATION.
