Four partners are seeking to maximize efficiencies through standardized processes with a new vessel-sharing scheme in the central and northern North Sea.

Peterson, joined by Maersk Oil North Sea UK Ltd., Petrofac and Dana Petroleum Ltd., launched the scheme in July 2017 but did not announce it until the first week of January 2018. The vessels operate from Peterson’s Waterloo Quay facility in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The two weekly sailings serve four assets:

  • Maersk Oil’s Gryphon and Global Producer III FPSO units;
  • Dana’s Triton FPSO unit; and
  • The FPF-1, of which Petrofac is duty holder.

Peterson, which has managed vessels in the southern North Sea for more than 20 years, acts as an independent facilitator as well as vessel charterer. Representatives from each partner compose the partnership’s steering group. An operations committee handles routine activities.

So far, the partners have achieved success through combining volumes, distance and capacity, increased schedule flexibility, reduced environmental risk and cost savings. The standardized safety processes derived from the uniform approach inherent in vessel sharing could set a new industry standard.

“We are delighted to be working with like-minded, visionary companies who see the value in sharing resources and are pleased to be acting as pool facilitators and enabling the principle of a CNNs [Convolutional Neural Networks] pool to come to reality,” said Chris Coull, regional director for Peterson, in a statement. “Other companies are watching the progress of this initiative with great interest, and we trust we will welcome more forward-thinking organizations onboard in the future.”

Les Mills, corporate logistics superintendent for Petrofac, added that the collaboration was cutting the cost of North Sea operations.

“Reducing the number of vessel voyages has many advantages,” he said. “Fewer vessel movements minimize safety risks, reduce emissions and lower costs for the vessel charterer and share partners. As established and new entrant operators seek to extend field life in the North Sea, logistics sharing provides an effective way to meet operating requirements, while reducing costs when compared to dedicated resources.”

—Joseph Markman

Offshore