The $70 million contract was awarded to the Ausclad-Meisei Joint Venture and is for the painting of steelwork as well as the supply and installation of hot, cold and acoustic insulation for the Train 4 cryogenic process equipment and piping.

Ausclad is a Kwinana-based company while Meisei is a Japanese company that is internationally recognised as a leading insulation contractor for the LNG industry.

The JV plans to mobilise about 400 workers in May of next year and begin executing the contract the following month.

A Woodside official said about $800 million in contracts have so far been awarded to Australian companies and this should rise to around $1 billion by the time the project is completed in 2004.