Gorgon Project Update

Transcription

1 Gorgon Project Update Issue 15 - February 2008 In this issue: - Comprehensive Marine Monitoring Program Underway - Change to Project Scope - Western Australian Company Providing Regional Support for LNG Projects - Mentors, Champions and Legends Key to Quarantine Success - KJV Recruiting Drive Operated by Chevron Australia in joint venture with

2 Gorgon Project Environmental Team Leader Dr Julia Martin said the 12 month survey would build on the data gathered during the four-year environmental approvals phase of the Project. Comprehensive Marine Monitoring Program Underway The Gorgon Project is undertaking a suite of major environmental surveys in the lead up to construction, including one of Australia s most comprehensive marine monitoring programs. Centered around the Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Conservation Reserves, the monitoring program will capture a comprehensive pre-development - or baseline - assessment of the marine area. Gorgon Project Environmental Team Leader Dr Julia Martin said the 12 month survey would build on the data gathered during the four-year environmental approvals phase of the Project. Dr Martin said the logistically challenging survey would involve the use of highly specialised marine scientists, including divers with construction experience, to install permanent environmentally-sensitive moorings, and to collect data on water quality, sedimentation rates, coral community health and diversity, and habitat characterisation. The data we ll be gathering will give us a comprehensive and up to date state of the environment Dr Martin said. This includes the installation of a series of sensors on the sea bed for remote data collection of water quality, and the selection and tagging of sections of coral for ongoing monitoring activities. Other surveys include: Turtle tagging Part of a wider turtle research initiative backed by the Gorgon Project, this program involves biologists, aided by volunteer turtle taggers, monitoring the size and distribution of the flatback turtle population, as well as nesting habits from October to May each year. Scorpion surveys A continuation of surveys undertaken during the environmental approvals phase of the Project, this involves daytime searches for scorpion burrows and night time searches for the scorpions themselves to find out more about their distribution on Barrow Island. Groundwater monitoring A comprehensive groundwater monitoring program will be established around the LNG plant site to collect more data on water quality and subterranean fauna. Air quality Air quality monitoring sites will be established around the gas plant site and the construction village. It will also provide an opportunity to monitor for potential impacts during Project construction activities. 2

3 Tidal habitat surveys A survey of the intertidal habitat focusing on the area surrounding the underground shore crossing of the gas pipelines which will feed gas to the LNG plant. Soil carbon dioxide survey Investigatory study to be undertaken at and around the Project s carbon dioxide injection site to determine the background levels of carbon dioxide release from the soil. Vegetation surveys Extensive surveys of vegetation will be undertaken over the island where construction activities are proposed. Quarantine surveys This program aims to gather baseline data on the extent of non-indigenous species, such as weeds and invertebrates, at disturbed sites on Barrow Island. Noise surveys Noise monitors will be located around the gas plant site and village to gather data on noise prior to construction. Change in Project Scope The Gorgon Project continues to progress its plans for an LNG facility on Barrow Island following environmental approval and optimisation during The Australian Federal Minister for the Environment issued Commonwealth approval for the Gorgon Project in October 2007, following approval from the Western Australian Minister for the Environment in September Government environmental approval, the culmination of an extensive and collaborative process initiated in 2003, was at the highest level of scrutiny by the Federal and WA State governments. The Project has recently completed extensive optimisation studies and as a result has endorsed a change in project scope from 2 x 5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) trains to 3 x 5 MTPA LNG trains. The Project expects very little change to Barrow Island environmental impact as a result of changing to three trains. The third train will be built within the approved 300 hectare development site for the project, representing just 1.3% of Barrow Island. During the next 12 months, Gorgon Project Operator Chevron Australia will work with the Australian government to secure approvals for the additional LNG train, begin engineering and design work on the project, reconfirm supply tenders and contracts and expand the capacity of the Project team.

4 WPC Director of Business Development Brad D Cunha said the company s work with ICNWA had provided many opportunities to link in with global supply chains. Western Australian Company Providing Regional Support for LNG Projects A Western Australian owned and operated company is fast becoming a key source of support for the Asia Pacific LNG industry through a highly specialised testing facility. Canning Vale based Western Process Controls (WPC) has established a cryogenic valve testing facility, a service previously only available in Japan, providing a timely, local and cost effective option to project developers and operators. WPC, the West Australian business partner of global process control solutions provider Emerson Process Management, invested in the facility following the active promotion of its services by the Industry Capability Network of Western Australia (ICNWA). WPC Director of Business Development Brad D Cunha said the company s work with ICNWA had provided many opportunities to link in with global supply chains. Our experience with ICNWA has been very positive, Mr D Cunha said. It has led to a number of opportunities to provide services to projects such as HISmelt, Ravensthorpe Nickel and the North West Shelf s Train 5. In fact, our cryogenic valve testing facility is now in demand across South East Asia. Through its relationship with Chevron, WPC joined other West Australian owned businesses and ICNWA representatives in a Chevron sponsored American Chamber of Commerce in Australia trade mission to the annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in 2006 in Houston, Texas. OTC, the largest annual oil and gas industry offshore production conference in the world, brings together more than 50,000 exploration and production professionals to discuss major industry issues and trends. Chevron s sponsorship of the trade mission is a key element of its strategy to broaden business relationships for Australian companies across their value chain by building networks with leading global energy contractors and suppliers. This complements the ICNWA s online initiative aimed at connecting Australian firms with potential Tier One contractors and suppliers on the Gorgon Project. The initiative, on the ICNWA s com.au website, will automatically notify suppliers and contractors registered against specific scope packages, such as local fabricators and construction firms, that tender packages have been issued to Tier One suppliers for Upstream facilities of the Gorgon Project. The notification enables registered suppliers and contractors to directly engage with the Tier One suppliers during the tendering process, providing further opportunities for Australian firms to become part of the Gorgon Project. WPC, which already provides valve management support to Chevron Australia for its oilfield operations on Barrow and Thevenard Islands, is in discussions with Chevron to examine opportunities to support the Gorgon Project s needs. Australian suppliers are invited to ensure they have an ICN company profile by visiting More than 3800 suppliers have already registered their details with the site.

5 Mentors, Champions and Legends Key to Quarantine Success The Gorgon Project team is ramping up awareness of Barrow Island s world class Quarantine Management System in advance of preparatory works scheduled to begin on the island later this year. Gorgon Quarantine Manager Johann Van Der Merwe said the Project team had designed a strategy that combined a training component and in innovative quarantine awareness program for all staff and contractors. Collectively these two programs will build on Chevron Australia s already strong quarantine culture, Mr Van Der Merwe said. Barrow Island s Class A Nature Reserve status has been maintained while being home to Australia s largest operating onshore oilfield during the past 40 years, he said. We re committed to safeguarding the island conservation values and our Quarantine Management System is at the core of that commitment. Our quarantine system has contributed significantly to the island not being impacted upon by introduced species such as cats, rabbits, rats and mice. We aim to equip all personnel and contractors with an appropriate level of understanding to ensure a successful and full participation in the Gorgon Project s quarantine management. In doing so they ll be playing a vital role in ensuring no non-indigenous species are introduced to Barrow Island. The training program will focus on providing personnel with safe work practices focusing on quarantine procedures, specifications and checklists for all the pathways of introduction. In addition to the training, the Gorgon Project is looking to leverage the efforts and leadership of existing personnel who have actively contributed to the success of the quarantine system on Barrow Island in the course of their work. This initiative seeks to identify quarantine Mentors, Champions and Legends. Mentors, are those personnel who adopt and embrace the quarantine system early and who provide encouragement of others, said Johann. Champions are those employees and contractors who have gone the proverbial extra mile to achieve positive quarantine outcomes. And Legends are those people who have been involved in quarantine for many years and are seen as custodians of the conservation values of the island through a long term commitment to quarantine. The Gorgon Project s quarantine system was developed during the Projects environmental approval process undertaken at one of the highest levels of scrutiny by the Federal and WA State governments. This included contemporary research and contributions of Gorgon Project people together with more than 30 independent experts, including representatives from the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Environmental Protection Authority, the WA Museum, the CSIRO, Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University. We are confident that the Quarantine Management System is setting a new benchmark in the management of increasing biosecurity risks in a globalised world, he said. We re committed to safeguarding the island conservation values and our Quarantine Management System is at the core of that commitment. 5

6 KVJ, an unincorporated joint venture between KBR, JGC Corporation, Hatch and Clough, is undertaking the Front End Engineering and Design for the Project s gas processing and export facilities on Barrow Island. KJV Recruiting Drive The Gorgon Project s Downstream contractor, Kellogg Joint Venture (KJV), is expanding its team as activity ramps up in KVJ, an unincorporated joint venture between KBR, JGC Corporation, Hatch and Clough, is undertaking the Front End Engineering and Design for the Project s gas processing and export facilities on Barrow Island. The process system will receive hydrocarbons from Gorgon and Jansz gas fields and produce LNG for export, with the ability for domestic gas to be fed into the existing mainland distribution network. Carbon Dioxide from the incoming gas stream will be stripped out in the process facility and compressed for injection into saline aquifers deep beneath Barrow Island. The export facilities will include a jetty, material offloading facility and marine works. KJV is seeking to recruit a variety of key positions in the Engineering, Project Controls, Construction, Business Services, Regulatory, Procurement, Environment, Safety and Quarantine areas. To express interest in any of these positions, please your CV, together with a covering letter, quoting the reference number and position in the subject line to resumes@kjv.com.au 6

7 Insert Image Here Contact Details Gorgon Joint Venture Ph: Fax: gorgon.info@chevron.com Insert Image Here Operated by Chevron Australia in joint venture with Gorgon Project