New Contracts for Oudna Development

Lundin Netherlands BV has awarded Petrofac two further contracts for the development of the Oudna field, discovered by Shell Tunirex in 1978, located approximately 80 km off the coast of north eastern Tunisia in the eastern part of the Gulf of Hammamet.

This latest award is a continuation of the work carried out by Woking-based Petrofac Engineering between December 2004 and April this year which included pre-project preparation and cost estimating for drilling, well testing and full field development.

Under a Technical Services Agreement with Lundin Netherlands BV, Petrofac Engineering is now undertaking an extended role incorporating engineering, procurement and project management services during the drilling and facilities development phases between now and October 2006.

Petrofac Engineering is responsible for the engineering, procurement and project management of all subsea hardware, and process, vessel and mooring system modifications required to convert the Ikdam FPSO vessel and install it for service on the Oudna field.  Petrofac is working closely in conjunction with Lundin Netherlands BV’s Production Operations team to maximise the benefits available from their extensive experience in successful marginal oilfield production offshore Tunisia via the Ikdam FPSO, currently installed on the Isis Field.  Petrofac will also monitor and report on all drilling related project costs.

Petrofac Engineering’s managing director, Rob Jewkes, says: “This is a further development in our close working relationship with Lundin.  Last year Petrofac agreed to work with Lundin on projects over the longer term, using the skills we have available not just in Petrofac Engineering but in other divisions of the Group.  Obviously that is subject to satisfying their requirements on this project but we’re confident that our flexible approach and commitment to employing innovative technical and commercial solutions mean that marginal fields such as Oudna can be developed with a high degree of confidence.”