Atlas Copco Rental UK, completes its largest single offshore project

With successful completion of the onshore trails and all Risk Assessments complete, the packed air spread was approved by Subsea7 and prepared for shipment.

On target to commence production of gas and oil in the latter half of 2011, the Norwegian BP Skarv-project is thought to be one of BP and its partner’s most northerly offshore developments. Comprising a subsea system of 16 wells on five templates, the new development will feed gas to an 80-kilometre (50-mile) sub-sea spur line. This will link into Norway’s existing Aasgard pipeline, with the gas making its way to consumers in Germany.

Lead role in the process was undertaken by offshore test specialists IKM Testing of Norway.
A key part of the dewatering and drying process is to drive a train of six dewatering pigs through the pipe and it is here where Atlas Copco Rental Oil & Gas have been called in.
Our remit being to provide sufficient air / nitrogen volume pressure and quantity to drive the pig train through the pipeline, whilst meeting the sites additional criteria.

Inert nitrogen was selected to propel the pig train through this gas line, primarily as it is a safer process, and is proven to assist in the pipeline drying process.  Precise pressure and flow control is vital, any fluctuations being liab e to impact upon the speed and efficacy of the pig train.

The first challenge for Atlas Copco Rental, however, was to assemble all the equipment required to meet the demands of the project in the short lead time required by the client. Over a period of six weeks, equipment was sourced from key Atlas Copco Rental outlets throughout Europe and Asia, with the complete equipment spread assembled and readied for dry land testing in Dundee, Scotland. Once everything was checked and tested over a multiple hour ‘simulated running’, the 400 ton equipment spread was later decommissioned and loaded onto the cargo / transit ship which was berthed in Dundee awaiting load out..

From the outset, everyone's object and key priority was SAFETY FIRST.

The customers representatives were onsite for > 8 days whilst the simulation and function tests took place at AC Rental. This maintained effective communication and ensured expectations at every stage were achieved by all stakeholders. Finally after successful completion and recording of the spreads performance, the customer signed acceptance documentation and the mobilisation to site was initiated.

Fast forward to June and the complete equipment spread was transferred from the transit vessel to Subsea 7’s specialist reel-lay vessel Seven Oceans, which was berthed in Stavanger.

After full function testing onboard the vessel in Dusavik, Stavanger the Seven Oceans started transit to the Skarv Field and was rigged up and readied to supply pressurised nitrogen.
Filled with treated sea water, the subsea pipeline was now ready for dewatering prior to its commissioning.
　
“This is our largest single offshore Air / Nitrogen rental project to date”, says John Spink , General Manager Atlas Copco Rental Oil & Gas in the UK.

The fact that our client choose AC Rental for this project, is a clear signal that we have today in the eyes of the customer the commitment to respond and the specific skill set needed to execute in a safe way these types of projects.  A significant factor to ensure that the project was executed efficiently offshore was the presence of our team of trained service technicians, who, from the outset were involved throughout the test process, and went overseas and offshore to support our service.

Our experienced team of offshore personnel are fully offshore certified, including the latest specific requirements set out by the Norwegian authorities.
　
Commenting that the whole process was continuously monitored and documented, Mr Spink added that IKM, Subsea 7 and BP set strict parameters throughout the project. Every machine test and performance, including the competence of our personnel, was audited and passed before the project could commence.

“We have worked on smaller type projects with IKM and others before”, adds Mr Spink. “This of course helps us understand what the customer may require of us, however each new project brings challenges and they need to be successfully overcome, such was the case here".

“The onshore simulated test runs, gave both us and the customer enhanced confidence that the equipment we were supplying was right for the project”, adds Mr Spink.
“The actual offshore phase of the work is due to take up to 28 days, so we needed to ensure the schedule could be maintained. We also needed to accurately determine all costs. As an example, the fuel required to run the compressors and generators was precisely calculated to avoid any shortfall on board of the vessel”.

Once the pipeline has been cleaned and inspected, FPSO BP Skarv, will manage the gas flow from the wells and direct it through the pipeline to the shore.

“As the extraction of gas and oil from offshore locations becomes increasingly complex, the demands to carry out the work efficiently and safely increases”, adds Mr Spink. “Atlas Copco Rental continues to develop its expertise in delivering offshore rental packages that meet these demands.
We continuously invest in resources to supply the right equipment to increase the customers’ productivity, certified to meet strict safety parameters, on time and to budget”.

We aim to deliver beyond the customer expectations.