PERTH (miningweekly.com) – US energy major Chevron has awarded a A$100-million, ten-year long-term maintenance master contract to contractor Ventia for works in the Pilbara region.

As Primary Maintenance Contractor, Ventia will deliver front-line and campaign maintenance, brownfield execution scopes and turnaround events at Chevron-operated natural gas facilities in Western Australia, in accordance with orders placed by Chevron under the master contract over the contract term. 

“This significant contract award is a considerable achievement for Ventia and is testament to our dedication to the health and safety of our people, our team’s proven capability, and an enterprise-wide focus on delivering innovation and best practice for our clients,” said Ventia Group CEO Dean Banks.

The contract is expected to require some 700 staff, with Ventia to fill as many of the roles as possible from local, regional and Western Australian candidates, the company said on Thursday.

Work on the contract is expected to start in the third quarter of this year.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) said on Thursday that the contract at the Gorgon natural gas facility would be a major boost for the Western Australian economy and for jobs in the region.

“Gas means local jobs, gas means economic prosperity for Western Australia and gas means lower emissions. These 700 jobs are on top of the 80 000 direct and indirect jobs, and hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs that rely on the reliable, affordable and sustainable supply of oil and gas,” Appea Western Australian director Claire Wilkinson said.

“Ventia has also committed to sourcing approximately 50% of its subcontracted services from regional businesses in north-west Western Australia and tailored career pathways including traineeships and apprenticeships and working with indigenous suppliers.

“Western Australia’s gas industry is powering our homes, hospitals, mines and manufacturers by continuing to deliver reliable energy to the domestic market.”

“Our liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, over half of which come from Western Australia, are also helping lower the world’s emissions. The Australian government estimates Australia’s LNG has the potential to lower emissions in LNG-importing countries by around 170-million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent each year, by providing an alternative to higher emissions fuels, the equivalent of almost one-third of Australia’s total annual emissions.”

Wilkinson said the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects have been and will continue to be major economic drivers for the Western Australian economy.

“Since 2009 the Chevron-operated Gorgon and Wheatstone projects have delivered a range of benefits to Western Australia and the nation, including more than A$60-billion in local content with almost 1 000 contracts to local Australian businesses,” she said.

“At full capacity, Gorgon and Wheatstone will have the capacity to produce 500 TJ/d of domestic gas, around 50% of current supply in Western Australia.”