J. Ray McDermott Awarded Australian Project

McDermott International subsidiary J. Ray McDermott, S.A. won a $77 million contract by Woodside Energy Ltd., operator of the North West Shelf Venture's LNG Phase V Expansion project in Australia.

Under the contract, J. Ray will undertake construction engineering, procurement, fabrication, assembly and erection of 75 pre-assembled module and pipe rack units totaling nearly 22,000 short tons. Completed modules and pipe racks will be shipped from J. Ray's Batam Island, Indonesian fabrication facility to Western Australia, and transported to the Venture's LNG facilities on the Barrup Peninsula where the new LNG "Train V" is being constructed.

"The North West Shelf Venture contract is a welcome addition to our fabrication backlog at Batam, and work has already begun in preparation for this project," said Bob Deason, President and Chief Operating Officer of J. Ray. "J. Ray is pleased to be working with the Venture on Train V, and its operator Woodside, in furthering the development of Australia's natural resources."

Structural fabrication work on the project is scheduled to begin in October 2005, with piping fabrication planned to commence by the beginning of next year. J. Ray will also provide interface management with other contractors, suppliers and vendors.

The six equal participants in the North West Shelf Venture are: BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd; BP Developments Austrailia Pty Ltd; Chevron Australia Pty Ltd; Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd; Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Ltd; and Woodside Energy (Operator). CNOOC NWS Private Limited is also a member of the North West Shelf Venture but does not have an interest in the Venture's infrastructure.