Premier, Partners Reach First Oil At Catcher Area Development

First oil has been achieved at the Premier Oil-operated Catcher area development in the U.K. North Sea, the company said in a news release.

The development consists of the Catcher, Varadero and Burgman fields. Plans are for the Carnaby discovery, which also is located in the area, to serve as a future tieback.

The project was delivered on time and nearly 30% below budget, according to Premier Oil CEO Tony Durrant.

“Catcher is an example of Premier Oil’s capability to deliver full-cycle FPSO projects from exploration through to production,” Durrant said in late December. “As production ramps up in the first half of 2018, the increased cash flows will play an important role in Premier’s plans for debt reduction.”

The company anticipated an initial stabilized production of about 10,000 bbl/d from the Catcher Field, with plans to ramp up production from the Varadero Field followed by the Burgman Field.

“The phased approach allows for management of the well stock [while] commissioning of the gas processing modules and full water injection systems on the FPSO [unit] are completed,” Premier said in the release.

In all, production in the Catcher Area will increase to about 60,000 bbl/d during first-half 2018, which will add 30,000 bbl/d (net) to Premier’s production, the company said.

The sanctioned development includes 20 subsea wells on the Catcher, Varadero and Burgman fields, all of which will be tied back to a leased FPSO unit. Oil will be offloaded by tankers, while gas will be exported through the SEGAL facilities.

Premier’s partners in the Catcher area development are Cairn, MOL and Dyas.

UTEC Receives Greater Enfield Project Contract From TechnipFMC

UTEC, a survey company in subsea services group Acteon, has been awarded a contract by Technip Oceania Pty Ltd. to provide survey and positioning services for the Greater Enfield project offshore Western Australia.

The work scope includes prelay surveys; onshore dimensional control; survey and positioning associated with installation of rigid and flexible flowlines, umbilicals, jumpers, flying leads and subsea structures; and as-laid surveys, as-built surveys and final reporting.

The project will develop the Laverda Canyon, Norton over Laverda and Cimatti oil accumulations. These reserves will be tied back to the Ngujima-Yin FPSO facility.

To execute the work scope UTEC has set up a project management team in Perth and Singapore with additional personnel based in Kuala Lumpur. Preparation already is underway with offshore activity due to begin early in 2018.

Saipem Lands More Engineering, Construction Work

Saipem has signed a contract with Eni regarding the West Hub development project in Angola, the company said. The contract incorporates work orders made in 2016 and 2017 and the scope of work for the development of the Vandumbu Field in Block 15/06.

The additional activities will be carried out by Saipem’s Offshore Engineering and Construction division and encompass the engineering, procurement, construction and installation required for the development of the Vandumbu subsea field at water depths ranging from 1,300 m to 1,500 m (4,265 ft to 4,921 ft).

The project includes two production pipelines and the laying of umbilicals and service lines.

In addition, Saipem has been awarded a new contract in the Gulf of Mexico involving transportation and installation of the compression platform CA-KU-A1 on behalf of Dragados Offshore SA. Operations will be carried out by the Saipem 7000 semisubmersible vessel.

Saipem also has been awarded new contracts in offshore drilling in two areas of primary interest for the company. A/S Norske Shell tapped the company to drill one well, with an optional well offshore Norway. Drilling work will be carried out by the sixth-generation semisubmersible Scarabeo 8, beginning in second-quarter 2018 and lasting two months.

In the Arabian Gulf, Saipem will carry out drilling activities for the National Drilling Co. using the high-specification jackup Perro Negro 8 for 10 months.

Saipem also obtained onshore drilling contracts in Kazakhstan, Romania, Argentina and Bolivia.

The combined value of the contracts is about $380 million.

McDermott Wins EPCC Contract For Maersk’s Tyra Redevelopment Project

McDermott International Inc. has landed engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) services work for Maersk Oil’s Tyra redevelopment project in the Danish sector of the North Sea, a news release said.

The contract win, valued at between $500 million and $700 million, marks McDermott’s return to the North Sea to carry out such work, the company said. McDermott said it will provide its full suite of EPCC services for seven topside structures, six connecting bridges and six jacket extensions.

The work will be carried out as part of two separate work packages.

One work package consists of Tyra East G platform’s gas processing topside of about 18,188 tons and includes two 100-m (328-ft) connecting bridges of 468 and 771 tons, respectively, and a 137-m-long (449-ft-long) flare, according to the release.

The other work package consists of two wellhead topsides for Tyra East B and Tyra East C at 1,763 and 1,366 tons, respectively; a 2,480-ton riser topside at Tyra East E; two wellhead topsides for Tyra West B and Tyra West C at 1,421 and 1,488 tons, respectively; and a riser topside at 335 tons at Tyra West E. Four connecting bridges ranging from 60 to 1,102 tons are also part of the package.

McDermott said it also will fabricate six module support frames totaling 1,289 tons to raise the existing platforms 13 m (42 ft) to account for seabed subsidence. The existing four wellheads and two riser topsides along with the old bridges will be removed by others while retaining the original jackets to accept the new topsides with their module support frames, the release said.

Work on the contract is expected to start in early 2018 with the lump sum contract reflected in McDermott’s fourth-quarter 2017 backlog. McDermott said it is scheduled to complete its work packages for sail-away by Feb. 1, 2020, and Feb. 1, 2021, respectively.

L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering Secures Order

India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corp. has chosen Larsen & Toubro subsidiary L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering Ltd. to provide engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning services for its Bassein Development 3 Well Platform and Pipeline project offshore India.

The contract, valued at about $229 million, includes three new wellhead platforms, a 23-km (14-mile) subsea pipeline, composite subsea power cable, clamp-on works on an existing platform and modification work on nine existing platforms in the western offshore basin in India, according to a news release.

The project is part of ONGC’s efforts to jointly develop the B-147, BSE-11 and NBP-E fields. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2019.

Songa Enabler Rig To Drill Wells At Goliat Field

Eni will use the Songa Enabler semisubmersible rig to drill two infill wells at its Arctic Goliat Field in 2018, the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority said.

Drilling is scheduled to begin in late January and is expected to last for 116 days, the safety watchdog, whose consent was required to use the rig, added in a statement.

The Songa Enabler, owned by Songa Offshore, is on a long-term contract with Statoil and was on sublets to Aker BP and Bayerngas in December.

Statoil has a 35% stake in the Goliat Field, while operator Eni holds the rest.

DeepOcean Scoops Up Contract For Snorre Expansion Project

DeepOcean has won a contract for performing marine operation scope on the Statoil-operated Snorre Expansion Project in the North Sea.

The award covers project management, engineering, procurement of anchors for risers and umbilicals, and offshore installation activities, according to a news release. The company also will be charged with installation of six integrated subsea template structures and manifolds, plus installation of riser systems and umbilical systems on the Snorre A production platform.

DeepOcean plans to use its Edda Freya construction vessel to carry out offshore work in 2019 and 2020.

—Staff & Reuters Reports

Offshore