Following Arrow Energy awarding engineering consultancy group Arup a tender for tunnel design, the tender for the tunnel’s construction is soon to be released.
The 6 km tunnel will have a 4 m internal diameter, and house high pressure gas pipeline and other utility services, as part of Arrow’s multibillion dollar liquefied natural gas project on Curtis island.
The tunnel’s concept will be designed by the Brisbane office of Arup, who will prepare concept design and tender documentation, which will lead to the tender process for the tunnel’s construction contract.
Arrow Energy Chief Executive Officer Andrew Faulkner said Arup would begin work immediately on the tunnel’s design and specifications.
“The tunnel will have a smaller footprint than if we were to construct a pipeline on the seafloor. There will be entrance and exit points, but no overwater construction,” Mr Faulkner said.
Excavated approximately 35 m beneath the Gladstone Harbour seabed, the tunnel entrance will be located in Gladstone’s Yarwun area and the exit will be at Hamilton Point on the southern end of Curtis Island. The entire route runs through stable rock.
The tunnel to Curtis Island will be one of the longest offshore tunnels in Queensland and will take approximately three and a half years to build and fit out.
“Australia has a number of experienced tunnelling contractors so we are confident the tunnel will be built to the highest standard,” Mr Faulkner said.
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