From Australia (RW): Fabricators working on the production units for Inpex’s Ichthys (SEN, 32/1) field in the Browse Basin have completed the first topside module lifts.

The lift for the fpso took place at the Daewoo shipyard in Okpo, while the semi central production facility (CPF) lifts were at the Samsung shipyard in Geoje, both 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 3,600t and measured 50m by 43m by 26m. The first fpso module lift weighed 2,010t. Inpex says the combined weight of all topside modules for both facilities is about 120,000t.

When completed the CPF and fpso will be towed 5,600km from South Korea to the field off Western Australia where they will be permanently moored to the seabed for the expected 40-year project life.

When onstream, gas and some condensate will be sent via the 889km gas export line to the onshore LNG plant in Darwin. Stabilised condensate from the fpso will be offloaded periodically to shuttle tankers for export directly to market.

Mooring installation has also started with the first 49 foundation piles deployed and driven into the seabed in water depths of 250m. Each pile is about 66m long and weighs in excess of 450t. The mooring work is being carried out in preparation for the arrival of the two production units.

The mooring installation is being led by Heerema Marine Contractors under subcontract to the lead contractor McDermott and using the deepwater construction vessel Aegir. The work is being carried out in non-continuous phases with piles driven first and mooring chains to be laid out later.

As part of the offshore installation work, Inpex is overseeing the installation of more than 30,000t of subsea infrastructure and equipment. To date, 47km of flowlines have been laid down along with more than 30 flowline sleeper structures and a 6,500t riser support structure.

Also, Samsung has awarded a A$16.36mn contract to Nexans for 2,200km of halogen-free instrumentation and electrical cables for the CPF. The cables are being manufactured at Nexans’ plant in Jincheon, South Korea and delivery of the order has already begun. It will be completed by the end of this year.