Matrix wins Ichthys LNG contract

Matrix Composites & Engineering has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of McDermott International Inc. in Australia for the supply of production buoyancy on the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG project.

McDermott is the appointed main contractor for the subsea umbilical, riser, flowline project for INPEX. Matrix will supply nearly 1000 t of production buoyancy for two of McDermott’s mid-depth buoys (MDBs).

The production buoyancy will sit inside the steel MDB frame providing 460 t uplift to each structure. The MDBs in turn support the flexible production risers leading to the central production facility.

The production buoyancy has a greater lifespan than the expected operational life of the Ichthys LNG project.

Matrix’s production buoyancy is manufactured using composite syntactic foam as an alternative to steel tanks.

Syntactic foam does not corrode, nor does the foam structure contain compartments that can potentially flood with water. Made from a closed cell foam system, Matrix’s production buoyancy is designed for long-term deepwater submersion.

The buoyancy will be manufactured at the company’s 20 000 m composites syntactic foam plant in Henderson,

Western Australia, and assembled into the MDB frame in Bayswater, Singapore.

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquefaction/08042014/matrix_wins_ichthys_lng_contract_398/