Chevron assures investors Gorgon on track

Chevron has told investors Gorgon is on track and will start production in the middle of 2015.

"We want to reiterate the project is on track and we are on target for a mid-2015 start up,’’ CFO Pat Yarrington told investors.

Ms Yarrington said 20 of the 21 “critical process modules” for the first of two trains (production facilities) were in place, along with common facilities at Gorgon’s Barrow Island base.
“The remaining train will arrive shortly and it really becomes a process of hooking up and commissioning,’’ Ms Yarrington said.

Petronet expects LNG from Gorgon in 2015-16

Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL) today informed that the supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Australian Gorgon LNG Project will begin from 2015-16.

The company had signed a 20-year long term sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with an Australian subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation in August 2009 to purchase approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG from the Gorgon LNG Project.

“As per the update given by Exxon Mobil team the project is progressing on schedule and they are about 65% through. In the November-December this year, they may begin operations. So we can expect that by 2015-16, we will be able to get our first supplies from there to our Kochi terminal,” said A K Balyan, MD & CEO, Petronet LNG Ltd.

“We have already ordered for construction of a fourth ship that would carry the LNG from Australia to India. It is the same consortium which is doing our transportation from Qatar and Shipping Corporation of India would be operating it,” he said.

Gorgon Gas Project Expansion Approved

A proposal to expand the Gorgon gas project on Barrow Island in Western Australia has been approved by WA's environmental watchdog. The Environmental Protection Authority said yesterday it was satisfied that increasing Chevron's footprint on the island from 300ha to 332ha was ecologically acceptable provided it met certain conditions. The authority has recommended Chevron offset the impact to the area by extending a program to transfer and reintroduce threatened species for a further two years.

UGL wins Gorgon maintenance contract

Engineering group UGL has been awarded a five-year contract to maintain energy giant Chevron's Western Australia gas assets.

UGL will undertake mechanical and electrical work on Chevron's liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

UGL expects work to begin on the Gorgon gas project in the first half of calendar 201 and says the multi-million contract could be extended beyond the five-year term.

"We are very proud to have been selected by Chevron to provide maintenance services across the company's portfolio of critical oil and gas assets in Western Australia," UGL chief executive Richard Leupen said in a statement.

Theiss wins $212m Gorgon gas project contract

Thiess has won a new contract worth $212 million for work on Chevron's $52 billion Gorgon project in Western Australia.
Thiess will deliver ‘miscellaneous civil works’ at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project over the next two years under the new contract, it said today.
The company already holds contracts for other work at Gorgon and Chevron's Wheatstone LNG project, also in WA.

$US15 billion cost blowout at Gorgon gas project

The strong Australian dollar and extra logistics have caused a massive blowout in the cost of the Gorgon gas project.

Svitzer wins 20-year Gorgon contract

Chevron Australia, which has the majority share in the Gorgon joint venture, has awarded tug operator Svitzer a 20-year contract on the Gorgon Gas Project.

Svitzer will supply four 33m, 80-tonne bollard-pull Azimuthing Stern Drive (ASD) tugs for the project which will begin in 2014.

Ertech wins $50 million Gorgon contract

Ertech Holdings has won a $50 million general services contract for the Gorgon gas project. The construction company will provide equipment and workforce to help construct a gas processing plant on Barrow Island. Ertech has delivered more than $200 million of construction work on the Gorgon gas project since 2009. This work includes the design and construction of the desalination plant, earthworks around the construction camp, and construction of landing berths at the island.

Union says illegal workers on Gorgon gas project

The Maritime Union claims a number of illegal immigrants are working on the Gorgon gas project.
The union claims that a sub-contractor of Chevron is employing crane operators and deck hands on tourist visas and paying them below award wages.

"It's just a cheap grab for labour, cheap labour that it is on these multi-multi-billion dollar projects, it's a joke" said MUA Deputy National Secretary Mick Dolman.

Rosen Group wins Gorgon Gas Project contract

Rosen Group was recently awarded four major baseline pipeline inspection contracts for the Gorgon Gas Project on Barrow Island in Western Australia. The contracts are worth approximately $US9 million. Rosen has nearly 15 years of Western Australian experience.

Chevron looking to expand Gorgon gas project

Chevron is aiming to approve an expansion of the Gorgon gas project within 2 years. The news was released by Chevron's vice president of technology and services, Jim Blackwell, at a briefing for analysts in New York. More that $US25 billion worth of contracts have been awarded so far at the Gorgon gas project.

Gorgon contract won by ICON Engineering

A contract to build a Compensated Tension Lift Frame (CTLF) for use on the Gorgon gas project has been won by ICON Engineering.
The unit will be assembled in Perth and many of the componenents will be sourced from Australian suppliers.
The contract is worth $5.5 million.

Clough wins $300m Gorgon contract

Clough Ltd has won a $300 million contract for work on the Gorgon gas project in Western Australia.

"The work involves the transportation and installation of approximately 90km of 50cm pipeline, both offshore and onshore, from Barrow Island to the Dampier Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline," Clough said.

Clough said engineering and procurement would commence immediately. Site work is expected to start and finish in 2012.

Gorgon distributing $9 billion of work to Australian firms

The Gorgon gas project has delivered around $9 billion in work to Australian firms so far. Most of the work has been given to WA companies. There are currently around 85 boats and ships around Barrow Island involved with the construction of the Gorgon gas project.

Gorgon to be checked by KPMG

Chevron has appointed forensic accountants from KPMG to help avoid cost overruns on the Gorgon gas project. The accountants will look through invoices from contractors and sub-contractors to ensure that Chevron is not being overcharged. Chevron has awarded $24 billion worth of Gorgon contracts in the last year.

PM praises Gorgon carbon project

The prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, visited the Gorgon gas project site last Saturday to praise the environmental credentials of the operation. The Gorgon gas project features the world's biggest carbon capture and storage program. At its annual meeting last week, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum recognised the Gorgon gas project for its leadership in carbon capture and storage.

Leighton wins Gorgon contract

A subsidiary of Leighton has won a massive contract to deliver civil and underground works on the Gorgon gas project. The $800m contract is in addition to the company's current Gorgon work which include a jetty and marine structures.

Mermaid Marine secures Gorgon contract

Mermaid Marine has secured a shipping contract for the Gorgon gas project. The 3-year contract is worth more than $80 million and includes the provision of a towing tug, barge and landing craft. The barge will be uses to transport fuel from the mainland to the Gorgon site.

Chevron board may visit Gorgon site

The board of Chevron is to visit Perth at the end of this month to mark the first anniversary of its decision to approve the Gorgon gas project in Western Australia. Considering the board is making the trip from Houston to Perth, it would be strange for them not to go that little bit further and visit the Gorgon site during their stay in Western Austalia. Chevron's board includes a former Daimler Chrysler co-chairman and the current chairman of Wells Fargo.

Gorgon accommodation ship damaged

The ship used to accommodate workers at the Gorgon gas project site has been damaged. As previously reported by gorgongasproject.com, the cruise liner MS Finnmarken was brought to Barrow Island to house construction workers on the Gorgon site. It is believed the ship pulled away from its mooring at the Gorgon site and continued to sail to Dampier despite damage to its hull. The Western Australian government is now investigating the incident as it may have put the lives of some of the 270 workers on board at risk.