Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent
MELBOURNE, Nov. 13 -- Leighton Contractors, in joint venture with Saipem, was let a $900 million (Aus.) construction contract to develop and build the LNG jetty at Barrow Island for the Gorgon project.
Work involves design, material supply, fabrication, construction, and commissioning of the jetty. It also includes supply, fabrication, and construction of a heavy-lift facility, tug pens, and navigation aids.
Design work will begin immediately with a view to beginning construction in October 2010. Completion is scheduled for 2013.
The design will use caissons as support for the jetty structure. The caissons will be built at the Australian Marine Complex south of Perth in Western Australia before being transported to Barrow Island and lowered on to gravel pads placed at intervals on the sea floor.
Use of caissons avoids the driving of hundreds of steel piles into the seabed hence reducing construction time and eliminating noise and vibration associated with piling operations.
The jetty will extend 2.1 km and comprise steel trusses 70 m long supported by the 55 caissons.
