Australia, as a leading global LNG exporter, is renowned for its highly efficient and reliable subsea pipeline technology, which has been widely deployed in major LNG projects.
Take the Ichthys LNG Project as an example:
It employs a composite subsea pipeline system, featuring:
A 9% Ni steel inner layer (cryogenic-resistant to -196°C)
A nano-aerogel insulation layer (thermal conductivity: 0.013 W/(m·K))
A carbon steel outer layer for impact resistance
This design ensures stable transportation in deep-sea environments.
The project laid 890 km of subsea pipelines, connecting the Browse Basin gas field to the Darwin LNG plant, and installed 435-ton subsea production spools, with total structures exceeding 30,000 tons (Ref: 3, 36).
The Wheatstone Project demonstrates large-scale pipeline integration:
Its 140-mile (225 km) pipeline used 340,000 tons of steel, linking offshore platforms to the Ashburton North onshore LNG facility.
Annual capacity reaches 8.9 million tons (Ref: 2).
Meanwhile, the Jansz-Io Compression (J-IC) Project utilizes cutting-edge subsea compression technology, including:
Five MAN Energy Solutions HOFIM® compressors
Powered via 135 km of subsea power cables
Ensures long-term gas supply for the Gorgon Project (Ref: 5).
Cost Efficiency:
Subsea pipelines cost $13–16 million per km, proving more economical than trestle bridges, especially for long-distance transport (Ref: 4).
Example: The APLNG Project’s 48.5 km dual pipeline connects to the East Coast Gas Grid, enabling flexible supply distribution (Ref: 4).
Future Trends:
FLNG (Floating LNG) & Carbon Neutrality:
Shell plans to expand LNG output by 30% by 2030, while exploring hydrogen/ammonia-fueled pump tech (Ref: 7).
Smart Monitoring & AI O&M:
Technologies like fiber-optic sensing and AI-driven maintenance are becoming industry standards, enhancing deep-sea pipeline safety and efficiency.
