Macedon Gas Field

In the beginning
The Macedon Gas Field has an estimated gas-in-place volume of approximately 800 billion cubic feet (Bcf), with a current estimate of proved recoverable gas in the order of 600 Bcf. BHP found that this volume of gas would be insufficient to support long-term contracts required for a stand-alone LNG project. The combination of increased demand for domestic gas and technological advancement offered the company the opportunity to develop the Macedon Gas Field in an economically feasible way.
First steps
BHP plans to pipe gas from the field via a 500 mm diameter, 75 km subsea pipeline and 15.5 km onshore pipeline to 200 Million cubic feet per day gas plant at Ashburton North. A number of different groups were asked for their input including: the Cape Conservation Group, the Conservation Council of Western Australia, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, and the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation Department of Indigenous Affairs. In December 2010, Oceaneering International was contracted to the project to supply umbilicals and distribution equipment, which include supplying an integrated umbilical system consisting of approximately 100 km of steel tube umbilicals and associated distribution equipment, including termination assemblies and flying leads.

Current status
2011 has furthered developed the $1.43 billion gas project. Technips operating centres in Perth and Kuala Lumpur will execute the contract, it was to be completed in 2013. BHP was an $A45 million contract for pipeline construction work to a Streicher-Clough joint venture.