By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 22 -- TAQA Bratani Ltd. let a subsea installation contract to Technip for the development of Falcon oil field in 160 m of water on North Sea Block 210/25a about 560 km northeast of Aberdeen.
TAQA Bratani, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. PJSC (TAQA), acquired the acreage as part of its $631 million acquisition of seven oil fields in December 2008 from Shell UK Ltd. and Esso Exploration & Production (UK) Ltd. The sale included 100% interest and operatorship of the Tern, Kestrel, Eider, Cormorant North, South Cormorant, and Pelican fields, and a combined 26.73% interest in the Dana operated Hudson field together with a 16% interest in the Brent system and a 24% interest in the Sullom Voe terminal.
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) noted that TAQA appraised the area north of Tern field with a dual-branch exploration-appraisal well in April-May 2010. The second branch (210/25a-10z) found oil and proved a separate hydrocarbon accumulation from the Tern field.
DECC said TAQA plans to develop this accumulation called Falcon probably as a single-well tie-back to the Tern platform via the Kestrel subsea development, with production to start in this year’s second half.
The contract with Technip contract covers:
• Project management and engineering.
• Installation of a 6-in. production flexible flowline and a 4-in. gas lift flexible flowline.
• Installation of a control umbilical and a subsea distribution unit.
• Removal and replacement of a flexible riser.
• Trenching and backfilling of the flowlines and umbilical.
• Precommissioning, tie-ins, and testing.
Technip’s operating center in Aberdeen will execute the contract and its Le Trait, France, flexible pipe plant will manufacture the flowlines under a separate supply contract. Technip’s diving support vessel Orelia will handle the offshore installation, scheduled for completion the second half.
Photo from SABIC Limburg BV.
US Department of the Interior.
