Pipeline routing challenges for upstream PNG LNG project*
Carmel Coyne A , Guy Hamilton B , Grant Young C and Michael Sale DA Coffey Environments 126 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067. Email: carmel_coyne@coffey.com
B Coffey Environments 126 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067. Email: guy_hamilton@coffey.com
C Coffey Environments 126 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067. Email: grant_young@coffey.com
D Coffey Environments 126 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067. Email: michael_sale@coffey.com
The APPEA Journal 50(2) 693-693 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ09057
Published: 2010
Abstract
The Kikori Basin in Papua New Guinea is the host environment for the gas production and onland transport facilities for ExxonMobil’s PNG LNG. The remoteness of the basin, its vast expanses of intact primary tropical forest, ruggedness, varied and low density population, and the localised impacts of the existing oil and gas industry provided considerable environmental and social challenges to routing and siting of project facilities and infrastructure.
Meeting the project’s demanding permitting schedule, while retaining flexibility in design scope for contractor execution, necessitated that the routing process advance at two scales. One was a broad scale that settled a route for project environmental impact assessment using data at the scale of existing regional mapping supplemented by rapid assessment field surveys on the ground; and another a fine scale using pre-construction surveys to identify small-scale constraints to be avoided by tactical routing at a local scale of tens or hundreds of metres for environmental management planning.
Reducing potential impacts on the environment was a project priority and the routing process used was integral to this. The approach allowed the project to overcome ubiquitous high value environmental constraints under the scrutiny of project lenders focussed on satisfying industry’s international good practice environmental and social guidelines.
This paper will expand on the routing process, including the methods used and key players. The lessons will provide valuable awareness of issues and hurdles to be overcome for other companies intent on developing future oil and gas developments in Papua New Guinea and similar difficult geographies.
Keywords: PNG LNG project, survey, strategic, tactical, pipeline, assessment, cultural, biological, economic, multi-disciplinary teams
Carmel Coyne is a Principal with Coffey Environments who has over 20 years’ experience consulting to the energy and resource sector. Carmel has spent the past 14 years undertaking environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for major energy and resource developments in Papua New Guinea, Laos, Guinea, New Caledonia and throughout Australia. As ESIA Project Director, Carmel led a team of 50 staff and 29 specialist consultants, directing the environmental and social investigations and stakeholder engagement required to support project environmental approvals for this nation-building project. |
Guy Hamilton is an associate with Coffey Environments who has over five years’ experience consulting to the energy and resource sector across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Lao PDR. He has extensive experience in ESIA project management, project approvals strategies and preparing major project documentation such as: EIA/EES/PER; EMPs; inception reports; work plans; due diligence; and closure plans. Prior to joining Coffey Environments, Guy worked for the Victorian mines department as facilitator of major mining projects and before that, with BHP in the manganese division. |
Grant Young is a senior consultant with Coffey Environments with over seven years’ experience within the GIS field. His work to date has included: GIS project management; GIS project client demonstrations; GIS project initiation; adopting and maintaining existing GIS; map production; and spatial analysis. He has also been involved in report writing and oceanographic field work in Australia and in Indonesia. Before joining Coffey, Grant worked at VicRoads Land Information and Survey. |
Michael Sale is a consultant with Coffey Environments. Since joining Coffey, Michael has been involved with projects within the energy and resource sector. Michael’s area of expertise encompasses: terrestrial ecology; ecological impact assessment; and data analysis. His experience at Coffey Environments includes: conducting baseline ecological surveys; specialist study management; and preparation of environmental approval documents. Before joining Coffey, Michael completed a PhD in ecology. |
References
Coffey Natural Systems, 2009—PNG LNG Project Environmental Impact Statement. January Report prepared by Coffey Natural Systems Pty Ltd for ExxonMobil.Esso Highlands Limited, 2006—Environmental Assessment Report PNG Gas Project. May 2006 Report prepared by Esso Highlands Limited on behalf of the Government of PNG for the Asian Development Bank.
