ABB in agreement with INPEX to support Ichthys LNG Project

ABB has signed a five-year framework agreement with operator INPEX to provide services that ensure equipment uptime and optimisation of LNG production at the Ichthys LNG Project. Currently under construction, Ichthys is one of Australia’s largest LNG projects.

Described as three mega projects in one, the Ichthys LNG Project incorporates some of the world’s most advanced offshore facilities located 220 km off the West Australian coast — along with massive onshore processing facilities in Darwin — and an 890-kilometre subsea pipeline to unite them. The project contains over $200 million worth of electrification and automation equipment supplied by ABB across onshore and offshore project components, along with highly critical equipment in the gas processing plant.

The project is expected to have an operational life of 40 years, therefore extending equipment asset lifetimes to reduce capital expenditures, along with maintenance and operational costs, is critical.

Importantly, the agreement offers INPEX a commercial framework and the ease and convenience of dealing with a single entity for services, products and around-the-clock support. In future, when operational, INPEX will look to receive additional technical support and services, including electrical asset management, remote and condition monitoring, predictive analytics and alarm management applications.

This latest frame agreement covers support services for equipment supplied by ABB to facilitate the main power distribution for the onshore dual train LNG processing facility near Darwin that liquefies the gas collected from the offshore field. The agreement also includes support for the electrical power distribution for the entire floating production, storage and offloading facility, Ichthys Venturer, and the semi-submersible central processing facility, Ichthys Explorer. ABB has also supplied analyser equipment and instrumentation across the Ichthys LNG Project assets.

The Ichthys LNG Project is a joint venture between INPEX (the operator), major partner Total, CPC Corporation Taiwan and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, JERA and Toho Gas.

Image source: © INPEX Australia.