Boskalis wins Scarborough contract

Woodside Petroleum has awarded a contract to Netherlands-based Boskalis to undertake seabed intervention and shore crossing works for the proposed Scarborough export gas pipeline.

The contract is for preparatory activities related to offshore deepwater excavation, pipeline crossings, nearshore and shore crossing works for the export trunkline which connects Scarborough to onshore processing infrastructure.

Boskalis will mobilise specialist excavation and rock placement equipment for the complex scope, which Woodisde said would lead to a “substantial” local employment component.

No numerical details of the contract were disclosed

The execution of the in-field work is subject to a final investment decision for its Scarborough joint venture with BHP.

Woodside has previously said it expects to make a final investment decision on the project, which is located 250 kilometres north-west of Exmouth, sometime next year.

First production is slated for 2023 at the Woodside-operated project.

Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman said the award of the seabed intervention contract was another step towards unlocking the value of the Scarborough gas resource.

“Western Australia has played a vital role in supplying resources to the world and that role is now more important than ever as we are faced with the dual challenge of providing extra energy and cleaner energy for global and domestic markets,” he said.