David Paganie • Houston
Shell selects FLNG for Browse basin discoveries
Shell plans to develop the Prelude and Concerto gas discoveries in the Browse basin using its Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) technology. Shell says the technology helps process gas “in situ” over an offshore gas field, reducing project costs and the environmental footprint of an alternative LNG development.
Shell is the operator and 100% equity holder of the WA-371-P permit, which contains the Prelude and Concerto fields. The Prelude FLNG project is in the FEED phase of development and awaits a final investment decision. FEED for Prelude is being completed as part of Shell’s contract with the Technip-Samsung Heavy Industries consortium for the design, construction, and installation of multiple FLNG facilities.
Shell currently is working on the environmental and production approvals for Prelude, with the environmental impact statement to be released for public comment.
Papa Terra JV signs for FPSO P-63
The Papa Terra Joint Venture, consisting of Petrobras (operator) and Chevron, has signed a letter of intent with the consortium of BW Offshore and QUIP to use the FPSOP-63 on the Papa Terra field offshore Brazil. BW Offshore plans to use the ULCC BW Nisa for the project.
In other floating production news, StatoilHydro has contracted Sevan Marine to conduct a study on scale model testing to verify the feasibility of the Sevan cylindrical FPSO using steel catenary risers for deepwater application. The study will begin in the fourth quarter. Sevan Marine also picked up a contract from BG Norge to demonstrate the feasibility of the cylindrical FPSO for one of BG’s discoveries. The study will be done in the fourth quarter as well.
ATP advances Octabuoy
ATP is moving forward with the construction of its Octabuoy floating production unit supported by an amended agreement with COSCO Nantong Shipyard to defer $99 million in construction costs for the hull. The platform is on pace for a 2011 delivery, with first production in 2012.
The Octabuoy will serve as the floating production and drilling facility at ATP’s Cheviot field (blocks 2/10b, 2/15a, and 3/1) in the UK North Sea. ATP has a 100% working interest in the Cheviot field and is the operator.
The Octabuoy, designed by Moss Maritime, is a semisubmersible dry tree production unit designed for oil storage in the columns. ATP claims the hull shape provides for more favorable motion characteristics when compared to conventional semisubmersibles.
The platform is fitted with production/processing capacity for 25 MMb/d and 50 MMcf/d, and rated for 500 to 9,500 ft (152 to 2,896 m) water depth. With an estimated design life of 50 years, ATP intends to redeploy the Octabuoy after it has produced the Cheviot reserves.
Rowan resumes construction
Rowan has resumed construction of its fourth EXL class jackup rig. Delivery from Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas, is expected in 1Q 2012.
The EXL has hook-load capacity of 2 million lb, 70 ft (21 m) of cantilever reach, and mud pumping horsepower to drill 35,000 ft (10,668 m) deep. The company’s first three EXL rigs are on schedule, with deliveries expected in 1Q, 2Q, and 4Q 2010, respectively.
Construction also continues on Rowan’s second and third 240C jackup rigs,Ralph Coffman and Joe Douglas, with delivery scheduled for 1Q 2010 and 3Q 2011, respectively.
In related news, Master Marine has secured $399 million in equity and loans to complete the construction of two jackups, currently being built in Indonesia. The company next year will deliver a jackup accommodation unit to ConocoPhillips on Ekofisk. The vessel, designed to withstand a 10,000-year wave, will be the largest jackup accommodation unit in the North Sea with 447 single cabins, Master Marine says.
The company also is building a jackup vessel for installation of offshore platforms and wind turbines. Its first project will be the installation of 88 turbines in the North Sea for StatoilHydro/Statkraft.
New pipelay vessel launched
Dubai-based Leighton International has launched its second newbuild pipelay vesselLeighton Eclipse in Batam, Indonesia.
The vessel, measuring 130 m (427 ft) long, 32 m (105 ft) wide, and 8.5 m (28 ft) deep, initially will deploy offshore India on a $750-million pipeline replacement project (PRP II) contract for ONGC’s Mumbai High field.
The contract calls for the installation of 60 km (37 mi) of pipeline from 6 to 16 in. (15 to 41 cm) in water depths of 70 to 80 m (230 to 262 ft) during the 2009-2010 weather window, and a further 60 km (37 mi) the following season.
The vessel is fitted with capacity to handle pipe with 6- to 60-in. (15- to 152-cm) outside diameter in water depths of up to 150 m (492 ft). It has two 60-metric ton (66-ton) pipe tensioners, a 300-metric ton (331-ton) pedestal crane, facilities for manual, semiautomatic, and fully automatic welding, electric mooring winches, and integrated bridge-mounted controls.
Diamond acquires newbuild semisub
Diamond has acquired the construction contract to purchase the newbuild 7,500-ft (2,286-m) water depth-rated DP semisubmersible drilling rigPetroRig II from PetroRig II Pte Ltd. The rig will be re-named Ocean Valor.
