DSME Closes In On Castberg Win

South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine & Engineering (DSME) is close to winning a contract to build the hull and living quarters (LQ) for Statoil’s Johan Castberg FPSO vessel offshore Norway, according to reports from Asia.

Subject to the signing of a contract, DSME will build the hull and the LQ of the FPSO unit destined for deployment in the Barents Sea.

DSME has beat off stiff competition from fellow South Korean shipbuilders Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). DSME has offered a $575 million price to build the hull and the LQ, while SHI offered $595 million and HHI offered $600 million. The contract for the topside will be awarded separately in first-half 2018, according to a report in the Korean press.

The FPSO unit will be positioned on the Johan Castberg Field (formerly Skrugard), which lies about 240 km (149 miles) northwest of Hammerfest and 100 km (62 miles) north of the Snøhvit Field in the Barents Sea.

The Johan Castberg Field consists of the three discoveries: Skrugard, Havis and Drivis, which were proven in 2011 to 2013 in Lower to Middle Jurassic sandstone.

The discoveries contain between 450 MMbbl and 650 MMbbl of oil and are being developed as one project.

A final investment decision for the Johan Castberg project is due to be made toward year-end 2017.

UK Catcher FPSO Remains On Track

Premier Oil reports that the BW Catcher FPSO vessel on the Catcher Field in the U.K. North Sea is moving toward first oil this year.

The FPSO unit arrived at the field in the U.K. North Sea on Oct. 18. The hookup of the submerged turret production buoy mooring system was completed Oct. 19, with the vessel successfully completing a rotation test around the buoy Oct. 20.

“The final pull-in of the risers and umbilicals is now underway and commissioning activities have also commenced in parallel. Delivery of first oil remains on schedule by the end of the year,” Premier said.

DOF Subsea Snags Contracts For Vessels In Atlantic, North America

DOF Subsea said on Nov. 1 it has been awarded two contracts, securing utilization for several vessels in the Subsea IMR Projects segment.

In the Atlantic region, DOF Subsea has been awarded a contract within the wind industry, securing utilization of Skandi Neptune for 45 days and options in the fourth quarter.

In the North America region, DOF Subsea has been awarded a contract for the provision of survey, ROV and vessel services in the Gulf of Mexico, securing 135 days of vessel utilization in two phases. The project will utilize the vessels Harvey Deep Sea and Skandi Achiever with Phase 1 commencing in fourth-quarter 2017 and Phase 2 commencing in first-quarter 2018.

FPSO Vessel Arrives At Malaysia Field

Australia’s Octanex reports that the MTC Ledang FPSO vessel has arrived on location at the Ophir Field offshore Malaysia with commissioning activity underway.

“The FPSO [unit] is in final position, all mooring lines attached. The flowline between the FPSO [unit] and the previously installed wellhead platform [WHP] has been installed and tested,” Octanex said.

The Ophir Field is located offshore Peninsular Malaysia at a water depth of about 70 m (230 ft). The field is being developed via three production wells, a WHP and an FPSO vessel.

A risk service contract was granted to Ophir Production Sdn Bhd (OPSB) in 2014 for development of the field.

Octanex holds a 50% stake in OPSB, and its joint-venture shareholders in OPSB are Scomi with 30% and Vestigo Petroleum with 20%.

—Steve Hamlen & Staff Reports

Offshore