Ichthys begins CPF, FPSO module lifts

Contractors for the Ichthys fields in the Browse basin have completed the first topside module lifts onto the central processing facility and the floating production, storage, and offloading facility.

The lift for the FPSO took place at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard in Okpo, while the CPF lifts were at Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje. Both are in South Korea.

This signals the beginning of the topsides integration phase for the CPF and FPSO. The hulls and topsides were fabricated separately and this new phase brings the parts together as single, connected structures for the first time.

The first CPF module weighed 3,600 tonnes and measured 50-m long, 43-m wide, and 26-m high. The first FPSO module lift weighed 2,010 tonnes. Project operator Inpex Corp. says the combined weight of all topside modules for both facilities is about 120,000 tonnes.

The CPF and FPSO topsides include equipment required to process, store, and offload gas and condensate produced from Ichthys field. They also include living quarters for the workforce on both facilities.

When completed the CPF and FPSO will be towed 5,600 km from South Korea to Ichthys field offshore Western Australia where they will be permanently moored to the seabed for the project’s 40-year lifespan.

When on stream, gas and some condensate will be sent via the 889-km gas export line to the Ichthys onshore LNG plant in Darwin. Stabilized condensate from the FPSO will be offloaded periodically to shuttle tankers for export directly to market.