Modifying a major operator’s onshore and offshore assets to extend life

South-east Australia hosts some of the most important oil and gas assets that are critical to Australian energy security. Onshore and offshore assets in this area have been operating for over 55 years. Now, to continue production efficiently and extend life, assets need to be modified with innovative engineering solutions.

The scope

With a demonstrated track record of successful modifications in the global energy sector, a major operator selected Wood to provide Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services in 2004. To date, and following a five-year contract renewal in 2024, Wood has retained this contract for over 20 years.

Wood’s EPC scope encompasses a diverse portfolio of onshore and offshore minor modification and major enhancement work across brownfield offshore and onshore gas and marine terminals.

This Retrofit contract is delivered by a team of multi-disciplined, highly skilled employees including an on-site team, supported by Wood’s Melbourne and Sale offices which provides integrated EPC services across a wider portfolio.

The solution

Wood successfully delivers a strong portfolio of brownfield projects across the full EPC lifecycle, from concept, FEED, detailed design, site execution and project close-out. Wood has also supported maintenance site works as part of this Retrofit.

Offshore, typical projects include platform preparation for drilling rig movements, installation of flowlines and well workover support, facility enhancements and upgrades, decommissioning as well as engineering services for field managed maintenance work.

Onshore, typical projects onshore include cooler condenser upgrades and replacements, compression systems upgrades, gas plant wide instrument and electrical systems upgrade, package equipment replacements and high fire water tank and pump upgrades.

Our expertise in engineering design through to commissioning and handover means that we offer the best possible solution, setting early-stage projects up for success and beginning with the end in mind. As a global engineering company, Wood leverages a global network of over 35,000 people, including highly knowledgeable subject matter experts, to tackle complex challenges.

A culture of safety, specifically observations, is at the core of our delivery. The client recognised our achievements and ongoing commitment to safety excellence with Safety Recognition Awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Our HSE team won the 2014 Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Health and Safety Award for ‘Improving subcontractor safety performance.’

On-site, we deploy a ‘one team project excellence model’ to ensure a highly collaborative and cooperative work environment, encouraging an integrated approach without duplication of functions. To ensure efficiency and a streamlined workforce, we also deploy a ‘like for like’ execution model, allowing offshore maintenance tasks to be picked up alongside projects by our work crews already on site. This eliminates the need for the operator to mobilise a separate maintenance crew offshore to perform tasks.

The result

Wood continues to deliver exceptional results for this major operator, focusing on operational excellence and adopting shared core values.

Safety: we continue to sustain our excellent safety performance, with over eight years offshore and four years onshore without a recordable injury.

Continual improvement: by finding innovative solutions to challenges and encouraging improvement suggestions, Wood delivers significant cost savings to the client.

Productivity: consistently achieved portfolio KPIs within cost and schedule banding.

Driving down costs: through scope optimisation, re-use of existing project equipment by applying 4D solutions during FEED stages.