Bibby Scoops Up Another Subsea Inspection Contract With Shell

Bibby Offshore has been awarded two contracts this year from Shell to provide inspection services on assets in the Corrib natural gas field in the North Atlantic Ocean, according to a news release.

As part of the first contract Bibby Offshore’s construction support vessel Olympic Ares, which is equipped with Quantum Work Class and SeaEye Cougar Inspection Class ROVs, performed subsea inspections offshore Ireland in water depths of about 360 m (1,181 ft). The 40-day campaign, completed in June, involved pipeline survey inspection work on a 83-km-long (51.5-mile-long), 20-in. gas pipeline as well as internal wellhead and manifold fault diagnostics, structural inspection and cathodic protection measurements to ensure optimum levels of productivity were achieved, Bibby said.

Shell awarded Bibby a second contract for work, which began in July, at the operator’s West Ireland assets. This project also involved use of Bibby’s Olympic Ares. Expected to be complete by year-end 2016, the company said it will install an electrical distribution unit and several replacement control jumpers. The company also will perform inspection, repair and maintenance services in water depths of 400 m (1,312 ft).

Gulf Marine Confirms Contract For New Large Vessel

U.K.-based Gulf Marine Services Plc confirmed on Nov. 15 a contract to build a large-class vessel to support maintenance work in the European oil and gas sector.

“This new contract is testament to our leading industry expertise and strong track record of successful operations in European waters,” said Duncan Anderson, the company’s CEO, in a statement. “GMS is very well-positioned to capitalize on our clients’ desire for less expensive and yet more capable offshore support solutions, as our self-propelled vessels are significantly more economical and time-efficient than conventional support vessels without self-propulsion.”

—Staff Reports