VIDEO: World’s largest semi-submersible taking shape

Japan’s Inpex is developing the giant Ichthys gas field offshore Australia. The field development includes construction of a Central Processing Facility, an FPSO, subsea structures, flow lines and umbilicals, a Gas Export Pipeline, and an onshore LNG processing plant in Darwin.

Inpex has launched a timelapse video of the Ichthys offshore central processing facility, under construction at a Samsung Heavy Industries yard in South Korea.

The giant offshore structure will process gas from the Ichthys offshore field in order to remove water and raw liquids, including a large proportion of the condensate. The gas will then be transported via subsea pipeline to the onshore LNG plant proposed for Blaydin Point on Middle Arm Peninsula, Darwin. The remaining condensate will be pumped to an FPSO facility anchored nearby, from which it will be transferred to tankers for delivery to markets.

With topside dimensions of 150 metres by 110 metres, the offshore processing facility will be the world’s largest semi-submersible platform. Once complete, it will be towed around 6,000 kilometres to the Ichthys field in the Browse Basin, offshore Western Australia.

Tha platform is expected to be delivered in November 2015.