Yokogawa to supply control system for Ichthys LNG carrier unit in Australia

Yokogawa Electric has received an order from Kawasaki Heavy Industries to supply the control system for an LNG carrier that is being built for the Ichthys LNG project in Australia.

The ship will be the world’s largest Moss-type LNG carrier and will be used for transporting LNG from an onshore LNG processing plant that is being constructed as part of the Ichthys LNG project. The ship is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2016, in time for the completion of the plant. 

The ship is also the first Moss-type LNG carrier equipped with a dual fuel diesel engine (DFDE), which burns both fuel oil and gas.

Yokogawa will deliver the CENTUM VP integrated production control system for monitoring and controlling the LNG carrier’s LNG tanks and loading/unloading facilities as well as the supply of gas to the DFDE and the supply of power to other driving units. 

Yokogawa will also be responsible for the engineering and commissioning of the control system.

Yokogawa also won the control systems order for other Ichthys LNG project facilities in 2012. These include the onshore LNG processing plant, offshore production/process facilities, and the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. 

With this contract, the CENTUM VP system will cover all project facilities, from production to LNG transport.

Globally, the construction of many LNG carriers is planned for the transport of LNG from North America, Russia, Africa, and other regions. Backed by this order, Yokogawa will expand its control business for marine resource development facilities, including LNG carriers, FPSO vessels, floating LNG (FLNG) vessels, and floating storage and re-gasification units (FSRU).

The Ichthys LNG project is being carried out by a joint venture between INPEX (operator), Total, and several other companies. Gas from the Ichthys field, which is located offshore of northwestern Australia, will undergo preliminary processing at sea to remove water and impurities, and extract condensate. 

The gas will then be transported by undersea pipeline to onshore processing facilities in Darwin. The project is expected to produce 8.4 million tpy of LNG and 1.6 million tpy of LPG, along with approximately 100,000 bpd of condensate at peak.