Australia's safety unit says it plans to inspect Chevron's Gorgon LNG plant soon

Australia’s Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) said it plans to inspect Chevron’s Gorgon LNG plant “as soon as possible” following calls by a trade union to shut the plant.

“The Department ... is aware Chevron Australia discovered issues with propane kettles at its Gorgon LNG plant during routine maintenance and understands the company is investigating,” the department’s Director Dangerous Goods and Petroleum Safety Steve Emery said in a statement.

“While DMIRS does not have any immediate concerns for worker safety, the department is taking the matter seriously and is in discussion with Chevron about the findings from its maintenance inspections and the assessment of the results to date.”

“The department will conduct a joint ... inspection of the LNG plant as soon as possible.”

Cracks up to 1 metre long and 30 millimetres deep on between eight and 11 kettles on Train 2 have been discovered by the non-destructive testing team, AMWU said.

“If multiple kettles are showing cracks in testing on Train 2, there is a high risk there are cracks in the vessels on other trains” and these would need to be replaced immediately, said Steve McCartney, AMWU’s state secretary.

“Chevron needs to put workers’ safety first, and shut down for an independent investigation. If something goes wrong it would be catastrophic.”

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