Regeneration Monitoring on Pipeline Projects: The PNG LNG Experience

Abstract

Abstract The PNG LNG operation extends from Papua New Guinea’s Highlands Region in the north to Caution Bay in the Central Province near Port Moresby. The five key PNG LNG facilities are the LNG Plant near Port Moresby, the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant, a series of production wells, approximately 800 kilometres of pipelines, and Komo Airfield. Construction of PNG LNG facilities started in early 2010. The facilities were completed in 2014, with loading of the first LNG cargo on 25 May 2014. In the production phase, PNG LNG has the capacity to produce around 7.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. During the life of PNG LNG, it is expected that about 250 billion cubic metres of gas will be produced and sold to provide a long-term supply of LNG to customers in Asia. The PNG LNG footprint includes large tracks of high-value sensitive ecosystem. Recognizing the importance of ensuring regeneration in areas temporarily disturbed by construction, the PNG LNG Project instituted a multi-year regeneration monitoring program to track the level of vegetative regrowth occurring on the Pipeline Right of Way (ROW) and other disturbed areas, mainly focusing on the Upstream project areas. The Project’s objectives are to promote regeneration of temporary work areas disturbed during construction and achieve vegetation succession according to established benchmarks. To evaluate this objective, the PNG LNG Project instituted this regeneration monitoring program. The results of this paper focus on the monitoring through 1H2015, and so represent only initial findings to a multi-year regeneration effort.