Project design to be ready soon

THE Papua LNG project is expected to have its front-end engineering design done by end of this year, an official says.
Total E&P PNG Limited managing director Philippe Blanchard said this would follow the attainment of environmental permit.
FEED is the basic engineering conducted after the completion of conceptual design or feasibility study. At this stage, before the start of engineering, procurement and construction, various studies are undertaken to figure out technical issues and estimate investment cost.
“We are completing the appraisal programme, we are finalising the design of the project,” Blanchard said.
“We hope to go into front-end engineering design year end 2017 and beginning 2018. And we want to take FID (final investment decision) around the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019.”
According to information from Total, the company’s focus in Papua New Guinea are oil and gas exploration and production and petroleum product marketing.
In 2012, Total began exploration and production operations in the country.
In 2014, the company opened its Port Moresby exploration and production affiliate.
Total operate onshore Block PRL-15 with a 40.1 per cent interest.
Located in the Gulf of Papua, the block includes the major Elk and Antelope finds, as well as significant exploration potential in nearby formations.