November 9 2010
QGC, a leading Australian coal seam gas explorer and producer, is establishing one of Australia's largest capital infrastructure projects to turn Queensland's world-class coal seam gas reserves into liquefied natural gas.
GE and Laing O'Rourke have come together to form an integrated EPC Consortium to provide a unique and exceptional solution to meet QGC's water treatment requirements.
On September 9, QGC announced that the Laing O’Rourke/GE Water consortium was awarded the EPC contract for the Kenya Water Treatment Plant, worth more than $200 million.
Laing O’Rourke’s engineering expertise was a critical factor in securing the Engineering, Procurement and Construct (EPC) contract for a water treatment plant in south-west Queensland, servicing the region’s burgeoning coal seam gas industry.
Infrastructure General Manager Stephen Wilson said the project was technically complex, involving construction of a central water treatment plant and a relocatable water treatment plant with the capacity to treat up to 52 megalitres a day, as well as associated infrastructure such as a gas fired power plant, ponds and pipelines.
“GE will provide the technical expertise and the process equipment while we will bring our design experience and specialist construction skills to the job,” Stephen said. “This project will build on the strong relationship between GE and Laing O’Rourke.”
“Our engineering expertise, complementing GE’s expertise, was critical in securing the agreement,” he said.
“By providing advanced ultrafiltration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and brine concentrator technology, GE is excited to collaborate with an industry leader like Laing O’Rourke to meet QGC’s water treatment requirements,” said Michel Mercusot, General Manager of Partnerships for GE.
The two companies worked together on the recently completed Darling Downs Power Station, the largest combined-cycle power station in Australia, which was built in the same region and uses the coal seam gas abundant in the area.
The ability of the consortium to self-perform the majority of the works on the project, which at its peak will employ 200 people, was an additional benefit.
The water treatment plant will be built near the south west Queensland town of Chinchilla, four hours west of Brisbane, and will include local people on the project team and make use of local suppliers.
The water treatment plant is due to be commissioned and handed over in 18 months, with work due to start on site in 2011.
