ASCO Group has won a contract to manage the operations and maintenance, logistics and supply of Shell‘s Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, in Browse Basin, Northern Territory, Australia.
The Prelude FLNG facility will be 488m long and 74m wide. The project is expected to produce 5.3 million tonnes per annum of LNG, LPG and condensate.
Features of the FLNG design include the layout of hydrocarbon processes from accommodation modules, enlarged safety gaps between process modules, fire-proof protective coatings and specially designed product loading arms.
ASCO will manage Shell’s Darwin onshore supply base, road and airfreight transport of inventory within Australia, and supply vessel support via Darwin marine supply base.
The Darwin onshore supply base features 6,500m² of warehouse, of which 1,500m² is climate-controlled storage.
It also has office facilities to support base operations and 3ha of work and storage yards.
ASCO Australasia CEO Matt Thomas said the company had significant experience working with Shell internationally and would leverage its global knowledge to deliver efficiencies and innovation across the integrated supply chain.
"We recognise the importance of Shell’s activities to the Australian, Northern Territory and Western Australian economies and will support local employment and skills development wherever possible."
Shell discovered the Prelude natural gas field in 2007, with an additional field, Concerto, discovered nearby in 2009. Combined, both the gas fields have around 3 trillion cubic feet of gas.
The company operates Prelude in partnership with Inpex, Kogas and OPIC.
Image: ASCO will manage Shell’s Darwin onshore supply base, road and airfreight transport of inventory within Australia. Photo: courtesy of ASCO Group Limited.
