Gulfstream Natural Gas System LLC has awarded Anglo-Norwegian subsea contracting giant Stolt Offshore SA a contract to install the offshore portion of the Gulfstream natural gas transmission pipeline from Mobile Bay, Ala., to Tampa Bay, Fla. Stolt said this is the largest offshore pipelay project to date in the Gulf of Mexico.
Stolt's semisubmersible pipelay barge LB 2001 will install the 437-mile, 36-in. concrete coated pipe beginning in the second half of 2001. The derrick lay barge 801 will lay pipe in shallow water leading to shore approaches.
The onshore portion of the line will transport gas across Florida to the state's eastern coast; 292 miles of mainline and laterals, ranging in size from 16 in. to 36 in., will deliver gas to electricity generation plants (OGJ, Oct. 25, 1999, p. 34).
Florida's demand for gas is growing hugely, prompted in part by need for more electricity in the state. Duke Energy has said electricity generation growth is expected to hit 10,000 Mw by 2007.
Duke Energy Corp. and Williams agreed last year to purchase Coastal Corp.'s 100% interest in the Gulfstream gas pipeline, suspending their own Mississippi-to-Florida project, the Buccaneer pipeline (OGJ Online, Nov. 17, 2000).
Bernard Vossier, chief executive officer of Stolt Offshore said the LB 200 has laid 1,250 miles of large-diameter pipelines in the North Sea over the last 4 years. Vossier also said the company is relocating the DLB 801 to the gulf from West Africa and intends to keep the vessel in the gulf after completion of the project.
Stolt did not reveal the dollar amount of the contract, but said its backlog is $1.1 billion, of which $837 million is for work to be completed this year.
