The Scarborough Energy Project has achieved a major engineering milestone with the joining together of the topsides and hull for the Floating Production Unit (FPU).
Constructed separately at two different fabrication yards in China, the joining of the two mega-structures is a significant step forward for the Scarborough Energy Project as it progresses towards first LNG cargo, targeted for the second half of 2026.
The floatover required precise planning and extensive collaboration by all stakeholders. Teams from Woodside, McDermott, QMW and COSCO worked closely on the fabrication of the structures and on safely and successfully bringing them together.
Woodside Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Australia Liz Westcott highlighted what it meant for Woodside and the Scarborough Energy Project, which is now over 82% complete.(1)
'The floatover of the FPU is an engineering marvel and builds on the safe and successful fabrication of the topsides and hull.
'Manoeuvring two structures that each weigh more than 30,000 tonnes at sea is an exceptionally complex operation.
'I am proud of the Woodside and McDermott teams for the safe delivery of the FPU to the integration yard and the completion of this chapter of work. The FPU is a critical piece of infrastructure for this world-class project which continues to be delivered to the highest standard.'
The remaining integration work for the FPU will continue at the fabrication yard in Yantai before sailaway to Australia.
Once complete the FPU will be moored 375km off the coast of Karratha, Western Australia. The Scarborough Energy Project is set to produce up to 8 million tonnes of LNG per year and contribute up to 225 terajoules a day of domestic gas supply into the Western Australian market.
Images and video footage, courtesy of Woodside and McDermott, are available here.
Source: Woodside
