11-10-2016

Bechtel completes construction of the Curtis Island LNG program

Following a six-year global design and construction effort, Bechtel announced today it has completed construction of the Curtis Island LNG program with Australia Pacific LNG starting sustained production from Train 2 of its facility.  Bechtel has now delivered all six liquefied natural gas (LNG) production trains to three customers – QGC, Santos GLNG, and Australia Pacific LNG – on Curtis Island, off the shore of Queensland, just north of the city of Gladstone.

The three simultaneous construction programs are part of the largest concentration of private-capital investment in Australia’s history. The three facilities have the combined capacity to supply 25 million tonnes per annum of LNG –equal to about 8% of the world’s production.

“Completion of the unprecedented scale of engineering and construction work on Curtis Island in Australia is a historic achievement for Bechtel, the largest greenfield program we delivered since the company was founded in 1898,” said Alasdair Cathcart, president of Bechtel’s Oil, Gas and Chemicals business unit. “No company has ever attempted to build three simultaneous construction programs in one location. Successful delivery of reliable gas liquefaction facilities along with sustainable local benefits is a testament to the talent and ingenuity of our global team, collaborative relationship with the three customers, the excellence of our extensive global supply chain, and the immense support of the Gladstone community. Thanks and congratulations to the entire team on achieving the extraordinary.”

Design and construction of the three LNG plants was a global effort that peaked at more than 30,000 people across seven countries on four continents, including at one point employing almost 14,500 colleagues in Gladstone alone. Execution of the program included direct-hire construction on Curtis Island and modularization of major plant components in Bechtel-operated yards in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

As part of the company’s sustainability efforts for the Curtis Island program, Bechtel engaged with the nearby community and Australian authorities to develop and implement a number of programs targeted at developing Australian craft workforce and increase local participation in the construction of the LNG plants. Bechtel’s goals aimed at building the local economy included hiring and mentoring 436 apprentices for the project, with an additional 11,000 people receiving accredited training.  Other sustainability objectives included successfully protecting the environment by rehabilitating 65 acres of land with indigenous seeds as well as recycling 57,500 + yd3 of waste.

The Curtis Island LNG program also recently won Engineering News-Record’s 2016 “Global Best Project Award” in the power/industrial category for safe and innovative solutions to design and construction challenges, international teamwork, contribution to the community, and quality of design and construction work.