The PNG LNG Project remains on schedule to produce its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo in mid-year of 2014 following the recent completion of its 292-kilometre onshore section of pipeline.

The pipeline will transport natural gas from the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant to the Omati River, where it connects to the Project’s 407-kilometre offshore section of pipeline and then to the LNG Plant located near Port Moresby.

ExxonMobil PNG Limited senior project manager Sam Roxburgh said completion of the onshore pipeline, which rises 2,100 metres above sea level in some areas, is an important milestone for the PNG LNG Project as preparations continue for LNG production this year.

“This is yet another exciting milestone for the PNG LNG Project and a great achievement for ExxonMobil PNG Limited, pipeline contractor Spiecapag, and, most importantly, for the people of Papua New Guinea,” said Mr Roxburgh. “The Project team has worked in challenging conditions, including remote locations, steep terrain, high rainfall, flooding and large areas of swampland, to build this pipeline.”

It took four years and over 28 million work hours to build the pipeline, with a dedicated team that included more than 5,000 Papua New Guinea citizens from communities stretching from Omati to Hides.

“The pipeline was routed and constructed to avoid critical wildlife habitat and cultural areas such as sacred or archaeological sites,” Mr Roxburgh said. “Also important were the efforts to minimise the Project’s environmental footprint.”

Native vegetation has been replanted along the onshore pipeline route as environmental reinstatement activities continue.

The onshore pipeline diameter ranges from 32 inches to 34 inches. In excess of 250 billion cubic metres of gas are anticipated to be transported through the pipeline during the life of the Project.

About PNG LNG

The PNG LNG Project is an integrated development that includes gas production and processing facilities in the Southern Highlands, Hela, Western, Gulf and Central Provinces of Papua New Guinea. There are over 700 kilometres of pipelines connecting the facilities, which includes a gas conditioning plant in Hides and liquefaction and storage facilities with capacity of 6.9 million tonnes per year.

See the site of PNG LNG project