Funding of $1.2 million has been secured to build Australia's first deep water hyperbaric chamber testing and maintenance facility in Western Australia, capable of facilitating subsea control modules.
The McGowan Government and industry will each provide $600,000 towards the total $1.2 million cost of the new facility, which will be built at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, as part of a more comprehensive regional deep water testing facility.
Due to the growth in Australia's oil and gas industry, an increasing number of subsea control modules require ongoing maintenance and support.
Hyperbaric testing validates the design and manufacturing of products intended to work in subsea conditions or other high-pressure environments. The process offers assurance to manufacturers and customers that the equipment will perform safely and correctly.
Australia does not currently have suitable hyperbaric test facilities to accommodate subsea control modules, which must be sent overseas for inspection and repairs.
This extends supply chains, increases transport cost and risk, reduces visibility of repairs or fault diagnostics, and has led to many operators carrying larger than optimum spares inventories.
Once operational later this year, the new facility will provide local subsea control module testing and reduce the test and repair turnaround time from up to four months down to just two weeks, providing a reduction in costs for operators and equipment suppliers.
The new facility can be expanded to provide local capability for repairs and maintenance, further minimising cost and schedule delays, and developing a pool of local expertise and future jobs that can service both the Australian and regional sector's needs.
This is the first step towards development of a more comprehensive regional deep water testing facility in WA, being led by the Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia, industry partners Baker Hughes and Matrix Composites and Engineering, and supported by the LNG Jobs Taskforce.
Developing a hyperbaric test facility in WA positions the State as a regional testing hub for local, national and overseas customers.
As stated by State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook:
"The McGowan Government's vision and commitment in building Australia's first hyperbaric chamber test facility right here in our State demonstrates our strategy of diversifying our economy by creating new industries and jobs.
"This world-class facility will streamline the test and repair process, providing significant time and cost savings across the subsea industry for operators and equipment suppliers.
"Jointly funded by the State Government and industry, this is an exciting step towards the development of a comprehensive regional deep water testing facility in WA."
