Study scope extended for Zakum offshore islands

Offshore staff

ABU DHABI -- Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) has awarded Ramboll an extension to its contract for the Upper Zakum Phase II project offshore Abu Dhabi. Ramboll was also the consultant on the first phase of this project.

The Zakum oil field is one of the world’s largest, extending over an area of around 1,200 sq km (463 sq mi). ZADCO is performing an expansion study which involves installing various artificial islands for future use as drilling and oil production centers for the field.

Ramboll was appointed as a consultant in 2009 to analyze the potential impact of these islands and associated burrow areas on Zakum’s existing jackets, subsea pipelines and cables, taking into account local wave and current conditions. The study also examined how changes in hydrodynamic loads might affect the platforms’ structural integrity.

In Phase II of the project, the scope will be based on new information including new metocean data, applied to all the platforms and pipelines. In addition, Ramboll will undertake a detailed structural analysis of eight selected platforms including risers experiencing a significant increase in hydrodynamic loads, and a further study of the on-bottom stability.

According to Ramboll branch manager for the region Jesper William Thomsen, the company has also pre-qualified to expand its business in Abu Dhabi. “We now have the pre-qualifications in place which means that we are approved to bid for projects.” In anticipation of further work, Ramboll will seek to recruit further personnel, he added.

4/27/2010