Shell lines up Boskalis for Malampaya installations

Offshore staff

PAPENDRECHT, the Netherlands – Shell Philippines Exploration has commissioned Royal Boskalis Westminster to install an offshore depletion compression platform for the Malampaya project. The location is off the coast of Palawan Island in the Republic of the Philippines.

Contract scope includes seabed preparation, rock installation, platform transportation and installation work, with a total value of about $60 million.

Shell will use the compressor platform to expand development of theMalampaya gas field – it will be bridge-linked to the existing gas production platform.

To prepare the seabed for the installation, soils will be excavated to a level of sufficient bearing capacity and deposited at a designated area. Gravel pads will be installed as a foundation for the platform footing, with rock sourced from local Philippine quarries.

Following completion of this preparatory work the depletion compression facility will be towed to the site, positioned and installed by four heavy anchor-handling tugs (AHTs). To ensure platform stability iron ore gravel ballast will be placed in each of the four footings immediately after installation. Finally, Boskalis Offshore will install the connecting platform bridge.

Work is expected to start early next year and end in late 2014. Boskalis will deploy its new multi-purpose construction vesselNdeavor, which is due to be commissioned in the second half of this year, and two 200-ton and two 110-ton bollard pull AHTs.

Ndeavor will perform the seabed excavation and rock installation work, provide support during installation of the platform, ballast the platform footings, and install the bridge between the two platforms.

The Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power project is a joint venture between Philippine National Oil Co., Chevron, and operator Shell. Gas from the field is transported onshore by pipeline for use as feedstock by various power plants.

5/07/2013