Discovered in 2000 by INPEX Australia, the Ichthys gas and condensate field is located about 220 kilometres offshore from Western Australia, and achieved first gas in July 2018. The Ichthys Venturer is a Floating Production Storage & Offloading (FPSO) vessel permanently moored onsite, and was coated with Chartek 7E to provide advanced Passive Fire Protection technology.
With an estimated project cost of US$37 billion, Ichthys LNG is the largest overseas project undertaken by a Japanese company. Likewise, the Ichthys Venturer is an ambitious vessel; 336 meters long with a storage capacity of 1.12 million barrels and designed to last 40 years, much longer than a typical FPSO. Based on a proven formulation that has been used in more than 60% of the world’s offshore oil and gas facilities, Chartek 7E was the natural PFP choice to secure the specified lifetime of the vessel.
This tried-and-tested formulation is the result of AkzoNobel’s decades of technology leadership and continuous innovation, powered by unrivalled testing capabilities that allow coatings to be exposed to a wide array of extreme conditions in order to measure resistance. Combined with the expertise gathered from protecting more than 6 million square meters of steelwork over the last 25 years with Chartek 7 alone, AkzoNobel is highly equipped to provide PFP solutions to the oil and gas industry worldwide.
Chartek 7 is one of the core products of the Chartek range, with a track record of over 20 years providing exceptional protection against pool and jet fires, with proven long-term resistance against fire damage and corrosion. Chartek 7E applies the same technology with a self-reinforced formula that is mesh-free, helping to achieve weight reduction through a safety-first approach.
“Since Chartek 7 was released in 1995, it has proved itself to be the most dependable epoxy PFP technology in the industry, providing safety, durability and efficiency,” explained *Bas Hesselink, Oil & Gas Segment Manager for AkzoNobel. “With Chartek 7E we’ve taken the next step with a lighter, self-reinforced coating, helping our customers to further reduce application and maintenance costs while increasing long-term protection.
“Our wealth of experience with the Chartek 7 technology platform allows us to work closely with our partners to develop cutting-edge solutions to their latest challenges, and provide guidance on the best methods to apply and maintain them. 7E in particular is ideal for large-scale projects such as the Ichthys Venturer with long specified lifetimes, combining on-site productivity with proven long-term performance to help minimize both application and maintenance costs.”
Location of Project: Timor Sea, Australia
Main Product Used: Chartek 7E
Area Coated: 22,000 m2
Volume of Coatings: 330 tons
Project Owner: INPEX Corporation
