Subsea work on Ithaca Energy’s U.K. North Sea Greater Stella Area (GSA) (32/9) project is almost complete, with Technip scheduled to return in October 2015 to perform the final pipeline tie-ins that will conclude the 2015 subsea work programme.

Installation of the oil export pipeline from the FPF-1 riser base to the single anchor loading structures has recently been completed.

The primary focus of the on-going GSA development activities now centers on completion of the FPF-1 modifications programme being undertaken by Petrofac, which continues to advance towards the planned vessel sailaway from the Remontowa yard in Poland in late first-quarter 2016.

Operations on the FPF-1 are currently focussing on closing out the main construction phase activities and transitioning into the startup of commissioning operations.

“Pipework pressure testing on the topsides processing and utility systems is well advanced and electrical cable termination activities are nearing conclusion, close out of which will facilitate the commencement of the main commissioning phase. Precommissioning activities are ongoing,” Ithaca said.

The temporary generators required for commissioning are ready on site, hot oil flushing of package lube oil pipework has begun and site acceptance testing of the integrated control and safety system equipment is in progress.

Bumi Armada has contracted Keppel Offshore & Marine to carry out the conversion and upgrade of the FPSO for Hess’s Madura BD gas development, offshore Indonesia, under a $125 million deal. The unit will have a processing capacity of 3 MMcm/d and 7,500 bbl/d of condensate.

First Subsea has successfully completed the installation of bend stiffener connections (BSCs) for gas lift and production risers, power cables and umbilicals, for the Goliat (32/9) FPSO vessel in the Norwegian Barents Sea.

In total, the Goliat FPSO features 11 Type II BSCs at present, with a further 10 receptacle I-tubes pre-installed within the base of the vessel, enabling more tiebacks to be added as field production increases.

The Type II BSC was selected for the Goliat tiebacks because the receptacle has no moving parts, enabling a simpler riser, umbilical or cable connection.

The First Subsea Type II BSC comprises a ball and taper connector attached to a bend stiffener, which is pulled into a premachined I-tube. The connector is self-energising, self-aligning and features First Subsea’s Automatic Release Clamp enabling both diverless and ROVless BSCs.

Sevan Marine said it has granted a licence to construct a Sevan Marine-designed cylindrical drilling unit for a new market entrant.

A decision on whether this project will proceed is expected in third-quarter or early fourth-quarter 2015.

The company also said FLNG remains a key initiative and that several meetings were held with oil and gas majors regarding specific FLNG prospects.

“Sevan Marine continues to believe that the advantages of the cylindrical design for FLNG, such as no turret and improved motion characteristics, will make the design very cost competitive and less capital intensive vs. shipshape solutions,” the company said.

Sevan Marine also has been working on several studies and tenders for upcoming FPSO/FSO prospects, like the potential FPSO unit for a U.K. sector field and the potential FSO for the Culzean (32/8) Field.

Offshore