The Ichthys gas field lies 220 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia. Its operation represents one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. Veolia MPP Systems, a subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, commissioned VIRO to carry out the detailed engineering for the skid of an offshore water treatment unit for the Ichthys project.
The mega LNG project is mostly (62%) owned by the operator and major Japanese gas producer INPEX, and Total (30%). They awarded Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) the contract for building the floating production, storage, and offloading facility called the Ichthys Venturer. Veolia MPP Systems specialises in the development, supply, and maintenance of water purification units using the advanced Macro Porous Polymer Extraction (MPPE) process, which removes hydrocarbons from water. The Ichthys Venturer was equipped with an MPPE purification unit.
Complex specifications
Operators INPEX and Total place extremely high demands on the quality and reliability of treatment units. To ensure that the skid would meet the requirements, we liaised continually with Veolia MPP Systems engineers while we rigorously studied the specifications for the skid, and we occasionally confirmed their validity, just to make sure. We created 3D test models of the skid at various stages to make sure all parties involved would be able to perform uniform quality assessment, and guarantee that everyone would interpret the specifications identically.
Multidisciplinary task force
VIRO’s Plant Design, Construction & Architecture, Engineering Analysis and Electro & Instrumentation departments collaborated closely on the Skid Design under the meticulous guidance and coordination of our project manager. The skid’s dimensions are 10x10x16 metres (LxWxH). We drew up the design and carried out the calculations for the steel structure, including those for transporting and lifting it. Plant Design designed the pipework for which Engineering Analysis had done the Caesar II strength calculations. E & I handled the engineering of the cabling and junction boxes, and did the calculations for the lighting system. The skid was modelled in 3D in PDMS, and we supplied the client with comprehensive documentation in the form of data sheets, drawings, and code calculations.
Immediately after installation and commissioning, the water treatment unit worked exactly as expected.
