Contract Awards

Energean contract Stena IceMAX

Mediterranean Sea-focused oil and gas company has exercised its options to drill two further wells offshore Israel using Stena Drilling's drillship Stena IceMAX.

The drillship, which was used to make the Athena gas discovery last month, has just completed the drilling of the Karish Main-04 appraisal well. Karish is the gas field in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel that Energean plans to develop using the Energean Power FPSO, which earlier this month arrived at its offshore location, raising objections from Lebanon.

As for the KM-04 appraisal well results, Energean CEO Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive said:"Operations at the KM-04 appraisal well have been successfully completed ahead of schedule and below budget, meeting the primary objectives set pre-drill.

The well was completed 15 days ahead of schedule and $9 million below budget at a cost of $36 million. The primary objectives of the well were to further appraise gas volumes in the flanks of the structure; and reduce uncertainties associated with liquid content in the central fault blocks.

According to Energean, gas and associated liquids were encountered in the previously undrilled fault block between Karish Main and Karish North; has was encountered in the A-sands on the flanks of the Karish Main structure, these sands were tested and fluid samples obtained; and an oil rim was confirmed in the central part of the field, with thickness towards the lower end of the pre-drill expectation range (5-10metres vs. 0-100metres pre-drill).

"A sample of oil was obtained for testing. Energean expects to be able to commercialise the oil volumes through the existing well stock. Additional analysis will now be undertaken to further refine reserve volumes and the liquids-to-gas ratio across the Karish lease," Energean said.

Craig International wins major, long-term contract with INEOS FPS

Aberdeen headquartered, Craig International has secured a major contract with INEOS FPS, potentially valued at over £20million.

Following a competitive tender, the global energy procurement specialist has been awarded a five-year contract (with two year options) to deliver consolidated procurement services to INEOS FPS. This includes the supply of maintenance, repair and operations equipment for its Grangemouth base which operates the Forties Pipeline System.

Craig International will service the contract from its Aberdeen headquarters using its bespoke digital platforms: ebuy and ecobuy. These innovative digital platforms provide cost and efficiency savings through the streamlining of electronic processes and the ability to source globally and supply locally. This is backed-up by an advanced ecobuy platform to help customers reduce their carbon footprint.

ecobuy offers Craig International customers the opportunity to select more sustainable products, while combining orders to reduce vehicle, and particularly HGV journeys. It has a significant environmental impact with less disposable materials, including plastics, and less fuel, while increasing the number of products that can be reused and recycled.

Jill MacDonald, joint managing director of Craig International, said: “We are thrilled to welcome INEOS FPS to our extensive portfolio of companies supporting the North Sea’s offshore energy industry, after a rigorous and competitive tendering process.

“Our e-commerce and approach to sustainability were major factors in this contract award. As the industry ramps up efforts to support global net zero targets, there is a growing recognition that procurement plays a crucial part in reducing carbon emissions. Combining ebuy and ecobuy, we are actively addressing this through a suite of sustainable and technology-driven procurement solutions. INEOS FPS has recognised the value of this offering, along with the efficiencies we bring, and we look forward to supporting their operations over the next five years and beyond.”

With almost 130 staff, Craig International has a global network of pre-qualified suppliers, and over 80 procurement specialists in eight countries, providing cost-effective and efficient third- party procurement. Craig International provides a truly global service to the energy industry through its bases in the UK, Cape Town, Canada, Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Germany and the USA.

Petrofac wins five-year services provider contract

Petrofac, a leading services company in the energy sector, has been awarded an Integrated Services Provider (ISP) contract by Anasuria Operating Company (AOC) to provide onshore and offshore personnel and a range of technical support services.

The five-year contract, which has an option to extend, starts in June.

The new contract follows a long history of providing outsourced support for the Anasuria FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading). Petrofac has been duty holder for AOC since 2016 when the asset was divested from Shell.

As part of the transition, the Duty Holder role will transfer to AOC, while the majority of the offshore workforce will continue to be provided by Petrofac.

Nick Shorten, Chief Operating Officer for Petrofac’s Asset Solutions business said: “I’m proud that we are supporting our long-term client AOC in their ambitions to maximise value in the North Sea.”

Aker Solutions bags another North Sea extension with ConocoPhillips

U.S.-headquartered energy giant ConocoPhillips has awarded another extension for maintenance and modification work on its North Sea fields to Norway’s offshore engineering services provider Aker Solutions.

Aker Solutions revealed that it has secured a significant three-year contract extension to an existing framework agreement for work at North Sea fields operated by ConocoPhillips Skandinavia. Aker Solutions defines a significant contract as worth between NOK 1.5 billion (over $158 million) and NOK 2.5 billion (around $263.5 million).

To remind, the original framework agreement was inked in February 2016 for a period of five years. In September 2020, the Norwegian engineering services player secured its first three-year contract extension.

The latest extension will enable Aker Solutions to continue as ConocoPhillips’ main supplier of maintenance and modifications work offshore Norway. Thanks to this extension, the agreement will run from January 2024 until the end of 2026.

Paal Eikeseth, executive vice president and head of Aker Solutions’ electrification, maintenance and modifications business, remarked: “We are pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with ConocoPhillips and look forward to continue to deliver our solutions and services to one of the largest maintenance and modifications portfolios offshore Norway.”

The engineering services provider explained that the contract value will be determined by future call-offs for maintenance and modifications work and could range between NOK 500 million (about $52.7 million) and NOK 800 million (over $84.3 million) per year. The company also added that this estimate does not represent a minimum or maximum amount and is subject to change.

Furthermore, Aker Solutions confirmed that the work will be managed and executed by its office in Stavanger and fabrication yard in Egersund. In addition, this deal will provide work for the company’s offshore employees.

The Norwegian player further stated that this contract will be booked as order intake in the second quarter of 2022 in the Electrification, Maintenance and Modifications segment.

When it comes to Aker Solutions’ latest deals with other operators, the Norwegian company won a seven-year extension of its maintenance and modifications agreement with OKEA in March 2022.

Alicat secures £2 million contract to build further two new vessels for North Star’s renewables fleet

North Star has awarded a £2 million contract to Great Yarmouth firm Alicat Workboats for the construction of two new Chartwell designed daughter craft. The vessels will be added to its new renewables fleet which is bound for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm off the North East coast of England from next year.

Last September, the marine and engineering specialist firm successfully won a competitive tender to build an initial two daughter crafts for the offshore wind service vessel operator utilising a game changing hybrid powered design, developed by leading sustainable naval architect Chartwell Marine, in collaboration with North Star. The partnership has resulted in the build of high-performance vessels that combine diesel and electric outboard propulsion, a first for the offshore wind market.

North Star’s first fleet purpose built for offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) support is being delivered to the Dogger Bank Wind Farm partners Equinor, SSE Renewables and Eni Plenitude, from February next year. The full tonnage package includes four of North Star’s unique hybrid-powered service operation vessels (SOVs). These ships provide stateof-the-art comfort and accommodation for wind farm technicians working in field and encompass the latest green technologies to integrate and futureproof for zero emission fuels in the future.

The four vessels being built by Alicat to the Chartwell Daughter Craft design specifications will support operations with the safe transfer of maintenance technicians and equipment between the SOVs and wind turbines at Dogger Bank Wind Farm during phases A, B, and C, providing further flexibility in field when it comes to personnel deployment and logistics.

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni Plenitude (20%).

Alicat director Simon Coote said: “As we continue to work towards completing the first two daughter craft for North Star’s first offshore wind fleet, we are very pleased that our craftmanship, continued collaboration and expertise has been recognised and we have been awarded this multimillion-pound contract for two additional daughter craft.

“This commitment from North Star helps to sustain our business for a further two years, creating new employment opportunities and securing our workforce for the long term. We currently have a very loyal and dedicated team, and we anticipate increasing our headcount with a further five new hires in the coming months, including up to three new apprentices.”

Andrew Duncan, renewables director at North Star said: “As the UK’s largest offshore infrastructure support vessel operator, we have a proven track record of successfully delivering multiple newbuild projects simultaneously and therefore we have incredibly high standards for those we engage with to help achieve and maintain this."