Leighton Contractors Pty Limited (Leighton), a subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited, in consortium with Saipem S.p.A (Saipem) have been selected as the preferred proponent to develop the $900 million Chevron Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) Jetty and Marine Structures project. Design will commence immediately and construction is scheduled to commence in October 2010 on Barrow Island, 70 kilometers off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia, and is expected to be completed in 2013.
The scope of work consists of the design, material supply, fabrication, construction and commissioning of the LNG Jetty. The scope also includes supply, fabrication and construction of marine structures including a heavy lift facility, tug pens and navigation aids.
Peter McMorrow, managing director of Leighton said the company was proud to be involved with the development of such a world class project for Chevron that will contribute significantly to LNG exports from Australia.
“The LNG Jetty and Marine structures are integral to the Gorgon LNG Project and the selection of the Saipem Leighton Consortium as the preferred proponent clearly demonstrates our strong track record in delivering complex projects for our clients,” McMorrow said.
Ray Sputore, general manager western region, Construction Division of Leighton said the Saipem Leighton Consortium has proposed an innovative alternative structure design that would significantly enhance local workforce participation and reduce the environmental impact during the construction of the jetty.
Sputore said that concrete structures, known as caissons, would be manufactured at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, transported to Barrow Island and lowered onto gravel beds placed at intervals on the sea floor to provide a support structure for the jetty.
“By using these locally manufactured caissons we will avoid the traditional piled construction method, which would have required hundreds of steel piles to be driven into the sea bed – this will reduce both the length of construction and eliminate the noise and vibration associated with driving piles into the sea bed.
“As part of the consortium’s design, the jetty will be 2.1 kilometers long consisting of steel trusses approximately 70m long supported by 55 concrete caissons leading to the loading platform approximately four kilometers from the shore,” Sputore said.
“We are delighted to be providing innovative solutions in the oil and gas sector,” Sputore said.
The Gorgon joint venture partners are Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (17.75%), Chevron (TAPL) Pty Ltd (32.25%), Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Ltd (25%) and Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd (25%).