Talisman's new Montrose bridge linked platform (BLP) topsides has sailed out from the Heerema Fabrication Group's Zwijndrecht yard, 12mi south of Rotterdam.
The 10,500-tonne, 75m-long, 40m-high, topsides will make a short stop off at Schiedam, near Rotterdam, for the installation and commissioning of an 80-tonne pedestal crane and the attachment of the upper sections of the exhaust stacks.
At the end of April the platform will then travel 430nm to the Montrose area, in Block 22/17, in the central North Sea, where it will be installed using Heerema Marine Contractor's Thialf heavy lift crane vessel.
Talisman Sinopec UK (TSEUK) sanctioned the Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR) to significantly enhance the Montrose Area infrastructure, including the development of three new fields - Godwin, Cayley, and Shaw.
The new BLP will be connected to the Montrose Alpha platform to provide additional process and plant support facilities. The project is expected to extend the life of the Montrose Area fields by at least 13 years, to beyond 2030, and unlock an additional 100 MMboe reserves.
HFG was awarded the BLP construction contract in late-2012, starting construction early 2013.
Bill Dunnett, Managing Director of TSEUK said: “The Montrose Area Redevelopment is not only one of the biggest capital projects in the UK North Sea this year, but also a tangible demonstration of the long term commitment of our shareholders and partners to the UK Continental Shelf.
"It adds a completely new facility to our core infrastructure and can be a game-changer for this business, adding significant production and maximizing economic recovery from these historic assets for years to come.”
Montrose is in Block 22/17 of the UK Continental Shelf, 207km east of Aberdeen. TSEUK is the operator with a working interest of 58.97%, and Marubeni Oil & Gas is the sole partner.
Read more
Images from TSEUK (top two) and Heerema Fabrication Group.
Subscribe
