Basis for Browse
Basis of Design, a safe and cost-effective framework for detailed design decisions, has been approved for the Browse to North West Shelf Project.
The Browse to North West Shelf (NWS) Project has passed another milestone with the approval of its Basis of Design (BoD).
The document represents the main technical deliverable for the concept definition phase of the mega project.
BoD covers all elements of Browse including metocean and geotechnical data, reservoir properties and the design and functional requirements for the wells, subsea production system, floating production storage and offtake (FPSO) facilities, export pipeline and key interfaces with the NWS Project.
“It captures the functional requirements, design requirements, philosophies, and the codes and standards to be used for all the Browse facilities,” explains technical integration manager Mark Charlton.
“Our aim was to ensure an operable, safe and cost-effective design.”
The Browse Joint Venture, operated by Woodside, proposes to develop the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa fields located approximately 360 km north of Broome.
The concept includes two identical FPSOs which would process and export dry gas to the existing infrastructure at the Karratha Gas Plant via the Browse Trunkline and NWS's second trunkline. Developed in conjunction with Development, Projects and Operations, the BoD comprises 544 pages of 111 individual data sheets, prepared by more than 50 authors with more than 100 reviewers and approvers.
And now contractors will use it as input for the development of the design so they can make detailed design decisions to support BoD requirements.
Woodside began work on the BoD in October and delivered the initial draft the following month.
The work was checked, modified, assured and signed off in April before being issued in May.
“It was a tight schedule,” says Mark.
He says system engineer Shereen White, the coordinator for the BoD, simplified the amount of information, adding: “The amount of work carried out in the time frame has been sensational.
“One of the main things we tried to do was simplify it down to only the key information we need and the decisions we need to make as the operating company.”
Shereen agrees.
“It’s been written in a way that allows contractors the flexibility to identify the most optimised design solutions whilst still delivering the functional requirements,” she says. “We’ve learnt and built on the good work undertaken by the Scarborough Project. Through collaboration, we were able to adopt and build upon BoD processes, systems, technical and operational requirements.”
Now the BoD is ready to be given to the contractors and sets the scene for Browse to enter front end engineering design this year. A final investment decision is scheduled for late 2020.
David Thain, operations readiness manager, notes the BoD is a document designed for the entire 30 year-lifespan of Browse.
“We have made sure we use modern technologies and have enabled technologies we think will be coming through in the future,” David says.
“For instance, we’ve enabled areas for drones, robots and subsea autonomous vehicles to dock, power up and transfer the data they collect when they undertake tasks.
“And via the technology incorporated in the design, we will be able to directly support the FPSOs from Mia Yellagonga more efficiently than ever before.
“The project mantra has been: ‘Browse - designed for life’.
“The BoD reflects that.”
Read the full Q2 2019 issue of Trunkline here.
