November 20 2009

Laing O’Rourke has begun site preparation works for the Fishermans Landing LNG plant in Gladstone, Queensland.

The company was awarded a Development Services Agreement for the works, which will prepare the site for the LNG storage tank foundations.

Project Director Ian Baker said it was a huge milestone in the development of the project.

"The project team has worked exclusively with LNG Ltd for two years through the development phase in an ECI (Early Contractor Involvement) process,” Ian said.

Laing O'Rourke has worked with LNG Ltd since 2007, and in 2008 formed a consortium with South Korean company SKE&C to form the preferred status as the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) Contractor for the full LNG facility.

The plant will use CSM (Coal Seam Methane) sourced from the Surat Basin, the first time this gas has been used to feed an LNG project in Australia.

Laing O'Rourke/SKEC recently completed a FEED (Front End Engineering Design) study for a 1.5mtpa (million tonnes per annum) process train and a 200,000m³ membrane storage tank.

In addition, the team has commenced a FEED study for an additional 1.5mtpa train.

The project includes works in nearly all of Laing O'Rourke's core operating sectors including earthworks, piling, marine, buildings, complex reinforced concrete, structural steel, mechanical equipment, piping, electrical and instrumentation.