he NR2 Project will recover remaining low pressure gas from the North Rankin and Perseus gas fields, which started producing gas in 1984 and mid-1990s respectively. The project will include the installation of a second platform, approximately 135 km offshore from Karratha on the northwest coast of Western Australia. Detailed engineering and procurement management services for the NR2 project will be conducted by Eos – a 50/50 joint venture of WorleyParsons and KBR.

Standing in about 125 m of water, the new platform will be a major offshore facility with a topsides weight of about 23,600 tonnes. J. Ray McDermott will construct the North Rankin B platform substructure and piles.

“Completing the North Rankin B substructure will be a major milestone for our Batam Island, Indonesia facility, as this will be the largest jacket ever built in the Southeast Asia region,” said J. Ray McDermott President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Deason.

Hereema Marine Contractors have been contracted to transport and install the new platform using the float-over method.

The NR2 project, which is scheduled for progressive start-up in 2013, will also include development of production facilities including gas-condensate coolers and separators, three 27 megawatt compression trains and power generation, a heli-deck and living quarters.

In October last year, Rolls Royce won a contract to provide gas compression turbines for the North Rankin platform. The three turbines, RB211-GT61 packages, are estimated to provide 44,000 horsepower of compression power on the North Rankin platform to help increase the flow of gas to Australia’s largest onshore gas plant at Karratha.

The proposed North Rankin B platform will be connected by a 100 m bridge to the existing North Rankin A platform. The NR2 Project will also include necessary tie-ins and refurbishment of North Rankin A. Upon completion in 2013, both platforms will be operated as a single integrated facility.

North Rankin B will be built substantially taller than the existing platforms that form part of the North West Shelf development, based on knowledge of cyclones and wave heights built up since the venture began supplying gas in 1986.

Woodside Chief Executive Don Voelte said the development project would continue to maximise the value of Australia’s largest resource project.

“This project will extend the field life of the North Rankin and Perseus fields and will support the venture’s onshore gas commitments to supply customers post 2013,” said Mr Voelte.