Gene Kliewer • Houston
US continental shelf
BP has ordered $100-million in subsea production systems from Cameron for tieback projects in the Gulf of Mexico. The scope includes four subsea trees, production control systems, manifold, flowline connections, engineering and project management, plus related equipment. Delivery is scheduled to start in 4Q 2009 and continue through 2010.
“This is the first in a series of orders to be placed under our 2006 Gulf of Mexico frame agreement with BP, and reflects the result of a joint standardization and engineering effort with BP over the past two years,” says Jack B. Moore, Cameron president and CEO.
NACE International has opened a $2.4-million training center for corrosion education in Houston. The 15,000-sq ft (1,394-sq m) facility has a cathodic production test field with buried, electrified pipelines, coatings lab with blast and spray booth, virtual spray booth, classroom training, equipment preparation area, and marine ballast tank immersion test.
Noble Energy has signed a five-year frame agreement with FMC Technologies as its preferred subsea equipment supplier for deepwater GoM projects. FMC will supply subsea production systems including enhanced horizontal subsea trees, related installation services, controls, manifolds and tie-in systems.
FMC Technologies has acquired a 45% interest in Schilling Robotics for $116 million.
“Our global subsea franchise will assist Schilling Robotics in extending its reach worldwide and better position it to serve its customers,” says Peter D. Kinnear, FMC Technologies chairman, president, and CEO. “Additionally, the relationship will allow FMC to participate more fully in the increasing integration of remote activities performed on the seabed such as subsea processing, well intervention, and production optimization.”
FMC Technologies is also acquiring the rights to exercise an option over the two-year period beginning in 2012 to acquire the remaining 55% of the company.
North Sea
BP has renewed a contract with Aker Solutions for life-of-field subsea engineering services covering West of Shetland assets. The three-year contract includes options for two one-year extensions. The total value over five years could reach £25 million ($36.6 million).
Aker will provide project management for subsea field developments from its Aberdeen, UK, office.
A manifold with utility gear was lifted and mated with the third Ormen Lange subsea template early in January at the Grenland Group’s Tønsberg, Norway, facility. The 44-m by 33-m by 15-m (144-ft by 108-ft by 49-ft) subsea station is scheduled for offloading and transportation to Ormen Lange in May where it will be installed in 900 m (2,953 ft) of water.
Asia/Pacific
ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc. has contracted J. Ray McDermott affiliate Barmada McDermott Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia for transportation and installation of a 1.5-mi (2.4-km) long, 12-in. (30.5-cm) replacement pipeline between Guntong-C and Guntong-A.
The existing Guntong-C riser and a section of the existing pipeline will be replaced with tie-in to the existing pipeline. A mechanical connector will connect the new pipeline to the remaining section of the existing pipeline.
Front-end engineering and design for development of the Beibu Gulf block 22/12 offshore China is under way by Roc Oil.
The proposed development calls for the construction and installation of a wellhead platform at Wei 6-12S in the northern part of the permit and a tie-back to the central processing platform at CNOOC’s Weizhou 12-1 discovery, about 1,800 m (5,905 ft) away from block 22/12.
Unmanned minimal structures at Wei 12-8W and Wei 12-8E in the southern part of the permit will be installed and progressively tied back to Wei 12-1 platform. First oil is scheduled in early 2011.
Roc Oil holds 40% in the permit. Partners are Horizon Oil Ltd. with 30%, Petsec Petroleum Inc. with 25%, and Oil Australia Pty Ltd. with 5%.
Jacky, Beatrice set for production
The Jacky field platform and production pipelines plus connection to the existing Beatrice field platform are installed and production is scheduled onstream in mid-March in the Inner Moray Firth of the UK. Weather had delayed the Jacky installation, but Ithaca Energy Inc. was able to secure theHermod heavy-lift vessel which had been undergoing maintenance at Rotterdam. The jackup Ensco 92 is scheduled into the field late this month for well work, and tie-in work is set for Beatrice. Once all work is complete, initial flow is expected to be 7,500 b/d of oil. Jacky is owned by Ithaca (67.3% as operator), Dyas (22.7%), and North Sea Energy (10%) and is being developed as an unmanned facility with a single well tied back to the Beatrice facilities.
60th pipeline bundle
Subsea 7 Inc. successfully launched and installed its 60th pipeline bundle. The milestone was a 1.3-km (0.8-mi) long bundle for BP’s Machar field in the North Sea. The $22-million contract covers a 12-in. (30.5-cm) sleeve containing a dry insulated 8-in. (20-cm) lined production pipeline, 6-in. (15-cm) plastic lined water injection flowline, 3-in. (7.6-cm) gas lift line, plus electrical power and signal cables and hydraulic and chemical controls tubing. The bundle was launched from Wick, Scotland and transported to location using controlled depth towing.
