GE wins $1bn Ichthys supply deal

GE Oil and Gas has won more than $1 billion in equipment supply contracts for the Ichthys liquefied natural gas project off the coast of Western Australia.

Under the contracts, GE will provide rotating equipment, including gas turbines and compressors for Inpex’s proposed LNG processing plant, which will be constructed at Blaydin Point near Darwin.

Also, GE will supply subsea production systems for the offshore portion of the project, as well as subsea connectors connecting the gas field, in the Browse Basin, to the LNG plant at Darwin.

Inpex expects to start producing LNG at Ichthys by the end of 2016.

GE chief executive Dan Heintzelman said the equipment under the new contracts would be supplied by 2014.

“We have been able to confirm our strong heritage in the LNG sector, leveraging our gas turbine, compressor and subsea production technologies for many of the world’s leading LNG projects, including the Ichthys subsea development,” Mr Heintzelman said.

“Our growing commitment to the LNG industry in Australia was another key factor in winning this significant award.”

The Ichthys project is a joint venture between Japan-based Inpex and France’s Total.

The project is expected to producte 8.4 million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of LPG per annum, along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak.