A MASSIVE construction effort would be needed in Port Moresby in about three years time if one or both of the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects proceed as planned.
In briefings to investor groups, Oil Search has disclosed that after studying 11 potential sites in the country, the ExxonMobil-led group was favouring a site near Port Moresby (Portion 152, near Konebada Petroleum Park).
ExxonMobil was assessing the commercial viability of a project that will produce 6.3 million tonnes annually of LNG either in a single large facility or in two separate LNG trains.
It said a large camp would be required for the construction phase, which would involve some 7,500 workers.
Once operational, the plant will be run by about 500 people.
ExxonMobil intends to complete this facility in 2013 or about a year after InterOil and its US and European partners plan to complete a similar LNG plant at the Konebada Petroleum Park, alongside the present InterOil crude oil refinery.
Just as many workers are likely to be needed for the InterOil venture.
Among the facilities ExxonMobil needs to build are an offshore loading terminal where tanker ships will berth and load LNG; an offloading facility for transfer of equipment and materials during construction and operations and a large camp for construction and operations personnel.
According to Oil Search, the LNG plant would require supply of one billion cubic feet of gas on a daily basis for the proposed plant, with the gas pipeline from the Southern Highlands transport 6.3 million tonnes of gas annually to the LNG facility.
The LNG plant itself was like a very large refrigeration facility that will cool the gas down to extremely low temperatures when it becomes a liquid that can be easily transported and shipped.