Early engagement with NOPSEMA

Abstract

The Ichthys LNG Project includes a central processing facility (CPF) that is the world’s largest semi-submersible platform. The Ichthys CPF is also the first semi-submersible in Australian waters. Given the novelty of the development concept, the complexity of the design, and the scale of the facilities, the Ichthys Project joint venture participants INPEX and Total wanted to gain a better understanding of what the Australian regulators would be looking for as part of the approval process prior to committing to a final investment decision (FID). On a voluntary basis, the project launched an early engagement with NOPSA (later NOPSEMA) in 2011 to review the design safety case for the CPF. This was the first time such an early engagement process had been undertaken by the regulator. A significant benefit of the early engagement process for both parties was good communication and feedback leading to the establishment of a mutually beneficial long-term relationship. The early engagement process identified no show stoppers at that stage. Feedback from the regulator was incorporated in the detailed engineering. The Ichthys Project considers that the early engagement process with NOPSEMA was positive and constructive. It contributed to an FID being taken in January 2012. INPEX continues to engage proactively with NOPSEMA.