November 12 - Leighton Contractors, in consortium with Saipem, have been selected as the preferred proponent to develop the Chevron Gorgon LNG Jetty and Marine Structures project.
Design will commence immediately and construction is scheduled to commence in October 2010 on Barrow Island, 70 kilometres off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia, and is expected to be completed in 2013.
The scope of work consists of the design, material supply, fabrication, construction and commissioning of the LNG Jetty. The scope also includes supply, fabrication and construction of marine structures including a heavy lift facility, tug pens and navigation aids.
Peter McMorrow, managing director of Leighton Contractors said: "The LNG Jetty and Marine structures are integral to the Gorgon LNG Project and the selection of the Saipem Leighton Consortium."
Ray Sputore, general manager Western Region, Construction Division of Leighton Contractors said the Saipem Leighton Consortium has proposed an innovative alternative structure design that would significantly enhance local workforce participation and reduce the environmental impact during the construction of the jetty.
Mr Sputore said that concrete structures, known as caissons, would be manufactured at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, transported to Barrow Island and lowered onto gravel beds placed at intervals on the sea floor to provide a support structure for the jetty.
"By using these locally manufactured caissons we will avoid the traditional piled construction method, which would have required hundreds of steel piles to be driven into the sea bed - this will reduce both the length of construction and eliminate the noise and vibration associated with driving piles into the sea bed.
