Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Jan. 7 -- The Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) joint venture (a 50-50 partnership of Origin Energy Ltd., Sydney, and ConocoPhillips) awarded two upstream design, engineering, and construction contracts for its coalseam methane supplied LNG project in Queensland.

A JV of McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd. and Consolidated Contractors Australia Pty. Ltd. received a contract for the design and construction of the 450-km gas pipeline from the Surat-Bowen basin CSM fields to the proposed LNG plant in Gladstone.

The Baulderstone Bilfinger Berger Services JV won the upstream facilities contract.

APLNG plans to develop Australia’s largest CSM reserve base to supply a 14-16 million tonne/year LNG plant to be built on Curtis Island in the port of Gladstone on Queensland central east coast.

Final investment decision for the project is expected at yearend. First LNG is targeted for 2014.