Australia’s MMA Offshore said it has secured a contract extension for the Inpex-led Ichthys LNG export project.
Under the deal, the offshore vessel operator said its MMA Plover would continue to provide drilling rig support services for the Ichthys field in Australia’s North West.
The contract extension includes a firm period of two years, with further options to extend on a per well basis, MMA said.
In addition, the contract, coupled with another three-year vessel contract in New Zeeland, has a price tag of A$44 million ($34 million), the firm said.
The Ichthys project produces LNG at the 8.9 million tonnes per year plant at Bladin Point near Darwin.
Natural gas arrives in Darwin from the giant Ichthys field offshore Western Australia via an 890-kilometre export pipeline.
Ichthys LNG is a joint venture between operator Inpex but also major partner France’s Total.
Other partners include Australian units of CPC Corporation Taiwan, Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, JERA and Toho Gas.