By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Apr. 10 -- Shell Exploration & Production Co. Tuesday chose subsea power and umbilical cable specialist Nexans SA to supply and install a 135 km umbilical connecting six platforms on the oil company's $1.26 billion deepwater Na Kika development in the US Gulf of Mexico.
The umbilicals, which will convey fluids, electricity, and telecommunication signals, will be laid at the Mississippi Canyon development in water depths of 2,300 m (7,500 ft), claimed to be a record for this type of installation. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
The equipment will be manufactured in Nexans' subsea cable plant in Norway, with installation work scheduled for completion early in 2003.
SEPCo announced plans last September to develop Na Kika as a subsea complex of five independent fields�Kepler, Ariel, Fourier, Herschel, and East Anstey�tied back to a centrally-located, permanently-moored semisubmersible production host facility. A sixth field, Coulomb, 100% owned by SEPCo, will be tied back to the host platform as production capacity becomes available.
Estimated ultimate recovery at Na Kika is more than 300 million boe. Kepler, Ariel, and Herschel are primarily oil, while Fourier, and East Anstey are primarily gas.
SEPCo holds a 50% interest in the floating host facilities, as well as the Kepler, Ariel, Fourier, and Herschel fields, with BP PLC having the remaining 50%. SEPCo has a 37.5% stake in East Anstey, and BP 62.5%.
