Main Power Generation Starts Up For Ichthys Offshore Facilities

The INPEX-led Ichthys LNG Project reached another milestone recently with its central processing facility (CPF) and its FPSO facility starting up their main power generators in the South Korean shipyards where they are being constructed, according to a news release.

“Starting up the main generators of the FPSO and CPF allows the commissioning to further progress by providing the required power for both massive offshore facilities,” Ichthys Project Managing Director Louis Bon said.

Focus now shifts to load testing, synchronization and commissioning of the power distribution systems for both offshore facilities, which will be permanently moored for 40 years of operation in the Ichthys Field in the Timor Sea offshore Western Australia.

Once in the field, the FPSO and CPF will be linked by an electric cable that will allow power supply to flow from each facility.

Gas will undergo initial processing on the CPF to extract condensate and water, and most condensate will be transferred to the nearby FPSO unit for offshore processing, the release said. The remainder along with the gas will be sent to Darwin via an 890-km (553-mile) gas export pipeline. Additional condensate will be taken from the gas at the onshore plant in Darwin.

FPSO-connected Wells Boosts Petrobras’ Production

Petrobras set a new monthly record of 1.36 MMboe/d in August for oil and gas production in pre-salt fields.

“This result was mainly due to the connection of new wells and the increased production in wells already connected to the FPSOs Cidade Maricá and Cidade de Saquarema, both installed in the Lula Field, in the presalt area of the Santos Basin,” Petrobras said.

The company also set a new monthly record in August for oil production in the presalt fields it operates. Oil production averaged about 1.1 MMbbl/d.