Aker Kvaerner wins Blind Faith hull and mooring system
Offshore staff
(US, GoM) - Chevron, with partner Kerr-McGee, have awarded Aker Kvaerner, Inc. the semisubmersible hull and mooring system contract for the Blind Faith project. The contract has a total value of approximately $120 million. Aker Kvaerner's workscope includes engineering, procurement, construction and transportation of the awarded facilities.
The Blind Faith platform will be installed in Mississippi Canyon block 650 in 6,500 ft of water, approximately 162 mi southeast of New Orleans. Aker Kvaerner's Deepwater Business unit conducted concept studies, pre-FEED and FEED work for the project.
"This contract award represents a breakthrough for Aker Kvaerner's deepwater business," says Aker Kvaerner President and CEO, Inge K. Hansen.
This development will utilize Aker Kvaerner's Deep Draft Semisubmersible (DDS) concept, which has been conceived specifically for the application of steel catenary risers in the ultra-deepwater and current-heavy GoM environment. The DDS represents an evolution of the strong Aker Kvaerner semisubmersible lineage.
"We consider the GoM to be the most competitive deepwater market in the world and of strategic importance to Aker Kvaerner," says Hansen.
The Blind Faith semisubmersible will be delivered using several Aker Kvaerner entities including Aker Kvaerner, Inc., Aker Kvaerner Verdal, Aker Kvaerner Engineering & Technology and Aker Marine Contractors. This delivery model allows control over the entire value chain.
President of Aker Kvaerner's deepwater business, Risto Neuvo, says "The Blind Faith project utilizes the best Aker Kvaerner combined global experience, resources and competence in Houston and Norway, such as concept development and project management in Houston and detail engineering, procurement and fabrication in Norway. This, along with our proven execution model, ensures a predictable delivery to Chevron."
10/19/05