Beyond FID

After 12 years of exploration, data collection, analysis, design, negotiation, preparation and above all, sheer hard work, we now embark on the next phase of the Ichthys LNG Project.

While FID has been a major milestone for the Project, we are now looking to our next main goal – first gas safely delivered by the end of 2016.

The execute phase brings many challenges to our global team as we ramp up our efforts to build a project capable of delivering our required production volumes. Over this phase, our team will be located in all corners of the world, including Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, Norway, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, United States, Thailand, China and beyond.

Within our control

FID brings with it a need for us to put Project Controls and support systems firmly in place.

The team has been working hard at preparing the deployment of the Project information management, contract management, cost control and quality management systems.

Recently, we deployed the Skire cost control system and the first phase of the IPIM (Ichthys Project Information Management) with the Coreworx solution delivering the contractor portal for interface management, technical queries and document management.

What’s the drill?

Our drilling team have come a long way since INPEX was awarded its Exploration Permit in 1998 and made the first discoveries of gas and condensate now known as the Ichthys field in 2000-01. Successful subsequent drilling campaigns occurred in 2003 and 2007-08.

Planning for the Ichthys development wells has been ongoing since 2006. Final well designs are now all but complete pending analysis of 3-D seismic and final well locations to be delivered by the Ichthys integrated sub-surface team in the final quarter of 2012. This work has been completed in conjunction with TOTAL and the technical support division of INPEX in Tokyo.

Tom Nolan, General Manager for Well Construction and Integrity said the focus in early 2012 post-FID is on contracting.

“We’re anticipating the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or rig contract will be ready for award by April,” he said.

“Additional tenders, contracts and master services agreements are in various stages of preparation and we expect to start drilling the first of 20 phase 1 Ichthys development wells in early 2014.”

Countdown for operations

With FID in place the clock is ticking loudly and we’re a step closer to startup. While it seems a long way off, the Operations team is already preparing for that milestone.

A fundamental task is to build a team of nearly 700 people to run and support the on and offshore facilities. Recruitment has commenced and many new operations team members will soon join the INPEX team in Perth and through the Project offices.

Conor Walker, General Manager Operations said that as during FEED, Operations will continue to work closely with the project teams to help ensure the completed Ichthys facilities will support critical HSE, production and efficiency targets.

“For our own part, we will have substantial training programs to execute, operations procedures to prepare, key information management systems to establish, integrity management and maintenance programs to build, support contracts to establish and spares to procure,” he said.

“We’ve got some busy but exciting years ahead.”

More details here: http://inpexcareers.com.au/