Jessica Tippee Houston
Wood to deliver three concept definition studies for SNE
Woodside has awarded Wood three contracts to perform subsea and flow assurance studies supporting the SNE field development in the Rufisque, Sangomar and Sangomar Deep Offshore blocks off Senegal.
These programs, to be performed in Australia and the UK, will cover three separate concept definition studies:
• A targeted flow assurance study to ensure robust and safe design
• An engineering assessment to demonstrate the feasibility of a riser and umbilical system at potential FPSO facilities
• A subsea flowlines study.
Bob MacDonald, CEO of Wood’s Specialist Technical Solutions business, said: “We have significant operational, design and verification experience in West Africa and look forward to applying our flexible concept evaluation and design optimization solutions to support Woodside in the development of this important deepwater project.”
Cairn Energy, SNE’s current operator, said a tender process was under way with FPSO and subsea infrastructure vendors, with a redeployed FPSO viewed as the preferred development option. The partners are seeking a vessel with a production capacity of around 100,000 b/d.
The first phase of the development will focus on the lower S500 reservoirs, with up to 25 wells targeting around 240 MMbbl. Subsequent phases, likely to follow two to four years after phase one, will target roughly 250 MMbbl in the S400 upper reservoir, with potential gas export.
Geophysical, environmental baseline and geotechnical surveys have all been completed, and work has started on project debt financing. The exploitation plan, which will outline the full development plans and options, should be submitted later this year, coinciding with the process of transferring operator status for the development to Woodside. Assuming government approval by the end of 2018, and the subsequent field investment decision, first oil should flow sometime between 2021 and 2023.
BHGE, McDermott secure Tortue/Ahmeyim FEED assignments
McDermott International Inc. and Baker Hughes, a GE company will conduct front-end engineering design (FEED) studies for BP/Kosmos’ Tortue/Ahmeyim gas field development offshore Mauritania and Senegal.
During this initial engineering phase, McDermott will define the subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines scope, while BHGE will focus on the subsea production system scope. Later, the two companies’ involvement could be converted to a lump-sum EPCI contract.
Scott Munro, McDermott’s vp Americas, Europe and Africa, said: “Building on our relationship with BP on Angelin [offshore Trinidad and Tobago], McDermott’s focus on modernized project management and a collaborative approach will create a fully inclusive, open and transparent working environment for BP and major partners to ensure success.
“Our integrated approach with BHGE will bring the best total solution to BP that we believe will provide schedule and budget certainty.”
Graham Gillies, vp, Subsea Production Systems and Subsea Services at BHGE, said: “We will be working closely with BP and McDermott on this strategically-important gas project that will benefit from our extensive knowledge of deepwater, large bore gas technologies and FEED capabilities.
“Increasingly, industry players are looking for commercially-innovative business models and integrated offerings that help reduce costs, while increasing efficiency and productivity. This is an excellent example of how the industry has evolved its approach, with global operators now embracing the benefits of early engagement with OEMs and service providers.”
McDermott expects to employ the Project Lifecycle Management module from its new digital platform Gemini XD to deliver advanced technology and development of a digital twin of the complete system.
BHGE’s RealTrack digital collaboration tool will provide live, real-time reporting of schedule progress, document status and issues management to improve the efficiency of the project’s execution.
The two companies’ teams will undertake project management and FEED work at McDermott’s offices in Epsom, near London.
Tortue/Ahmeyim’s initial subsea infrastructure will be designed to connect the first four wells through production pipelines to an FPSO. From there liquids will be removed and the gas transported via a pipeline to the floating LNG hub terminal where the gas will be liquefied.
The development is in the C-8 block offshore Mauritania and the Saint-Louis Profond block offshore Senegal. Kosmos discovered Tortue, with BP later assuming operatorship and a 60% interest in the project.
TechnipFMC Umbilicals oversaw the project management, engineering, and manufacture of more than 135 km (84 mi) of steel tube umbilicals. (Courtesy TechnipFMC)
TechnipFMC delivers last Kaombo umbilical
TechnipFMC has completed the engineering, procurement, fabrication, and supply of umbilicals for the Total-operated Kaombo project offshore Angola. The multi-site project used the facilities of TechnipFMC Umbilicals Ltd., TechnipFMC Umbilicals Inc., and Angoflex Ltda. TechnipFMC Umbilicals oversaw the project management, engineering, and manufacture of more than 135 km (84 mi) of steel tube umbilicals. The load-out of the umbilicals for offshore installation started in April 2017 at Angoflex in Lobito, Angola, and the final umbilical was loaded out in January 2018.
The Kaombo development is located on block 32 about 140 km (87 mi) offshore Angola. It is operated by Total E&P Angola Block 32.
Subsea 7 to support BP projects in the Caspian Sea
BP Exploration has contracted Subsea 7 to provide subsea inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) services on the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and Shah Deniz fields in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea.
The agreement, which runs for five years, includes supply of a Life of Field support vessel equipped with work class and observation class ROVs, and capable of performing inspection, survey, intervention, light subsea construction, surface diving and emergency response. It will be supported by a project management and engineering team based in Baku, with i-Tech Services’ in Aberdeen providing further assistance.
Steve Wisely, svp i-Tech Services, said: “This contract represents a significant milestone for i-Tech Services, with our entry into Azerbaijan. It provides us with an opportunity to develop our in-country and regional presence and tailor our service offerings to support BP’s ongoing IRM activities and future offshore developments.”
