Chevron’s $US29 billion Wheatstone LNG project has been linked to the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline, with DUET Group subsidiary DBP Development Group completing construction on a $94.9 million project.
The Wheatstone-Ashburton West Pipeline project included a refurbishment of an existing 87-kilometre pipe from Ashburton West to the Dampier-Bunbury pipeline and the construction of two new pipes; one an 87km, 16-inch pipe alongside the existing 10-inch pipeline, and a new 22km pipe to connect Ashburton West to Wheatstone’s domestic gas plant.
Practical completion was achieved in December, with 123 terajoules per day capacity available for the scheduled commissioning of Wheatstone.
Earlier this month, Chevron said Wheatstone was 55 per cent complete and on track for start-up in late 2016.
The project includes an 8.9 million tons per year LNG facility and a separate domestic gas plant.
The domestic plant, to which DBP’s pipeline is linked, is expected to produce 200 TJ/day, with production expected to start in 2018.
At production capacity, the pipeline will be able to handle up to 337 TJ/day, while it also has future expansion capacity of up to 600 TJ/day.
“We are very pleased to have DDG complete its first gas transmission development project in such a successful manner,” DDG chief executive Stuart Johnston said.
“We look forward to building on this initial success as we seek to provide pipeline infrastructure solutions for our customers.”
The project was completed in collaboration with Chevron, the departments of State Development, Lands and Mines and Petroleum, the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation, pastoral leaseholders, Monadelphous Group and Enerflex.
Mr Johnston said the construction created around 160 jobs.
DPB signed a 30-year deal with Chevron in September 2013 to build, own and operate the pipeline, with construction beginning in April last year.