GE awarded US$620 million services contract

GE Oil & Gas has received a US$620 million, 22-year contractual service agreement to provide a broad range of advanced technology services for QGC’s Queensland Curtis Liquefied Natural Gas (QCLNG) plant off the east coast of Australia.

One of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, the QCLNG plant will be the world’s first facility to turn coal seam gas into LNG. The QGC plant is the first of four LNG projects scheduled for Curtis Island and is expected to begin production in 2014, with the LNG produced primarily targeted for export including to China, Japan and Singapore.

“The QGC project on Curtis Island is a glimpse of the future. As the world’s first facility to turn coal seam gas into LNG, it validates Australia’s commitment to innovative solutions and its position as a leader in LNG,” said GE Chair and CEO Jeff Immelt.

“It is also a great example of how industrial internet-based services - where we connect advanced machines, data and experts - can deliver better outcomes for our customers and society.”

The GE scope of work will include planned and unplanned maintenance of the GE equipment being installed at the QCLNG plant, including 15 PGT25+G4 aeroderivative gas turbines, 28 centrifugal compressors, gearboxes, generators and all auxiliaries. The agreement also includes monitoring and diagnostic services, as well as reliability guarantees on the equipment.

“Using GE’s technology will contribute to the QCLNG plant being one of the most emissions-efficient facilities of its kind in the world,” said BG Group Chief Executive Chris Finlayson.

“Liquefied natural gas has an important role to play in the management of global greenhouse gas emissions. When used as a substitute for coal, particularly in developing economies, liquefied natural gas from the QCLNG Project could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35%.”

The QCLNG project will be supported by GE resources in the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide. Maintenance activities on the power turbines and compressors will take place at GE Oil & Gas facilities in Jandakot, Western Australia, and in Florence, Italy. Monitoring and diagnostics will be provided from GE Oil & Gas’ global iCenters, located in Florence, Houston and Kuala Lumpur. These centres house teams that constantly track and advise on the performance of installed equipment, enabling customers to optimise plant availability and life cycle of parts.