Thiess said has been awarded a $134 million contract by Saipem Australia Pty Ltd, the Australian company of the worldwide pipeline specialist Saipem, to construct a tunnel for the Santos GLNG Project in Gladstone.
Thiess will construct a 4.3 kilometre tunnel under a section of water known as The Narrows to connect the mainland near Gladstone to the Santos GLNG LNG Plant on Curtis Island. The 3.4 metre internal diameter, segmentally lined tunnel will serve as the conduit for the Santos GLNG gas transmission line.
Thiess Managing Director Bruce Munro said the contract with Saipem is a strong endorsement of the company’s market-leading tunnelling expertise.
“ Thiess’ versatile tunnelling capability is already being deployed in the LNG sector in Western Australia and we’re excited to now bring our tunnelling expertise to Queensland’s LNG industry ,” Mr Munro said.
“ LNG is the clean energy of tomorrow and this contract dovetails with our objective to become an integral part of the industry’s development. ”
Thiess is currently executing contracts in the LNG industry in the diverse areas of worker accommodation, site preparation, tank construction, gas processing facilities and tunnels in both Western Australia and Queensland.
Santos GLNG Project is a joint venture between one of Australia’s leading gas producers and three of the world’s largest energy companies, PETRONAS, Total and KOGAS.
Thiess will construct the tunnel using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) and the concrete segments used to line the tunnel will be cast onsite.
Mobilisation is expected to commence onsite in September preparing for tunnelling activities to commence later in the year.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, September 18, 2012