CHC Helicopter Australia has won a new, five-year contract to serve Shell Australia’s offshore petroleum operations in Western Australia.
The company, which gained its initial Shell contract in July 2014, will operate daily flights from Broome to Shell’s Prelude floating LNG platform in the Browse Basin. The platform was located about 475km north-east of Broome.
Shell Australia put the contract out to tender earlier in 2019.
CHC regional director for the Asia-Pacific Vincent D’Rozario said three Sikorsky S-92 helicopters would continue to be used for the Shell contract, which would also include emergency flights and a search-and-rescue role when required.
D’Rozario said the contract renewal came at a critical time, as Shell was moving into production from the Prelude field.
The first LNG shipment sailed from Prelude on June 11.
The project was estimated to have cost more than $US10 billion for Shell and its partners, South Korea’s KOGAS and Japan’s Inpex.
D’Rozario said CHC was proud to have retained the Shell contract.
The helicopter company had transported more than 50,000 passengers on more than 10,000 flights for the Shell consortium so far, while maintaining an excellent safety record and aircraft availability.
The helicopters will use the Aboriginal owned and run Djarindjin Airport for refuelling between Broome and the Prelude platform.
Meanwhile Shell was starting design work for the Crux field, 165km north-east of Prelude, with a final investment decision expected in 2020.
The field was proposed to provide additional gas supply to Prelude from 2025.
The terms of the contract were not disclosed.
