By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Mar. 2�BP PLC and Coflexip Stena Offshore Group's Houston-based subsidiary CSO Aker Maritime Inc. have signed a deal under which the deepwater contractor will handle subsea systems integration and design engineering for the UK megamajor's US Gulf of Mexico deepwater development program over the next 5 years.
The agreement, announced Thursday, covers conceptual and detailed engineering along with procurement and installation support for all subsea equipment and risers for developments coming under the control of BP Exploration's GoM Deepwater business unit.
The contract builds on a deal inked by the two companies on Feb. 22, under which CSO Aker Engineering will deliver as many as five spar-design floating production platforms for BP's future deepwater developments in the region.
This latest contract is said to represent CSO Aker Engineering's "largest single design engineering contract to date." Accrording to CSO, the deal will draw on around 25% of the contractor's engineering and project management resources.
"Preliminary work" on BP projects in water depths ranging from 1,200-1,800 ft, said CSO, has begun, with "BP and its partners relocating their subsea systems teams to CSO Aker Engineering's Houston office."
Tom Ehret, CSO's chief operating officer, said, "The market for engineering of field architectures in the Gulf of Mexico is particularly important as it is a key proving ground for deepwater development technologies that will influence other important deepwater markets."
The Paris-based CSO Group acquired Aker Maritime ASA's deepwater company business unit through a $625 million deal first announced last October.