Petrofac Brownfield Concentrates on New Export Pipeline

Petrofac Brownfield is to work on new topside modifications for a North Sea installation.

Brownfield is committed to the design, procurement and delivery process on the Kittiwake platform, which is located 100 miles east north east of Aberdeen, to meet the completion target date of 1 October 2007.

The new modifications will enable the transfer of fluids by a new pipeline from the Greater Kittiwake Area (GKA) to the existing Forties Pipeline System (FPS). It will include two main oil line (MOL) pumps, a cooler, a chemical injection skid for wax and corrosion inhibition, two emergency shutdown valves, new DCS/ESD panels, and modifications to the existing metering package.

The Kittiwake pipeline system is operated by Venture Production plc and the contract was placed with Brownfield late last year.

Brownfield’s business manager, Alex Hosie, said: “Currently, Venture exports the oil from GKA via oil tankers hooked up to a single anchor loading (SAL) buoy. However, this method of export is subject to interruptions due to high winds and sea states above four metres. All of this, coupled with increased hire costs for tankers, has led Venture to the new pipeline option. The new system will give far higher plant availability, greatly improving average production figures as well as improved security of supply and extension of field life.”

A team of 35 Brownfield engineers and support staff has been assembled to deliver the contract and the onshore team is expected to peak at around 45 workers.

Brownfield director, Bill Bayliss, is full of praise for the team: “Our expert design, project management and procurement team has done an outstanding job on this challenging project to meet the planned October 2007 delivery timeframe.”

Chris Bird, Venture’s field development manager, said of the ongoing relationship: “Petrofac completed a great job for us on the Goosander development. On the GKA pipeline project, Brownfield has been responsive to the early project challenges and have successfully worked with us to accommodate the various changes in specification inevitable in such a complex piece of infrastructure engineering. As a result of this productive and cooperative relationship, we expect to remain close to the original plan and budget. Both Petrofac Brownfield and Petrofac Facilities Management are working closely with us to improve productive capacity of the Kittiwake platform and extend the life of the GKA fields. This is great news for our respective stakeholders and the North Sea in general. Therefore, we are delighted to have them with us on this project.”