Blacktip Onshore Gas Processing Facility

Blacktip Gas field holds an estimated 933 billion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 5.7 million barrels of condensate. The field consists of two production wells tied-back to a wellhead platform, which is connected to a 108-km pipeline. The pipeline exports the gas to shore to a process plant located 2.5 km onshore. The condensate is exported by seaborne tankers via a subsea export pipeline approximately 3 km in length and sent to Rio Tinto Alcan’s alumina refinery situated at Gove in the Northern Territory.

Scope of Work

DBM Vircon’s scope entailed structural, civil and piping design and structural detailing for the Onshore Process Plant including production modules, pipe supports, pipe racks and associated skids. Scope included connecting various plant services within the modularized gas plant and interfacing with designated tie-in positions for onsite hook-up locations. Services included Piping Isometrics, Material Take-offs, Pipe Supports and Document Schedules.

Areas covered in DBM Vircon’s scope:

• Slug Catcher
• Gas Treatment Plant
• Condensate Pumps
• Gas Metering
• Water Treatment
• Compressors
• Scrubber Fin Fans Project
• Methanol Skid
• Drains
• Nitrogen/ Instrument Air
• Fire Water
• Flare Knockout
• Power and Emergency Generation Units

Challenges / Highlights

• Integration of design and detailing of pipe supports improved the schedule and reduced the possibility of any future rework.
• As the project was situated in a remote location, timing was crucial. The integration of the design and detail, along with the support to the Structural Engineers provide by DBM Vircon, enabled efficient timing of fabrication prior to site installation.