Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) launched two pre-qualification contracts for the construction of the 105km offshore pipeline section under the Adriatic Sea. The contracts are for engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI), and to supply the offshore line pipes and coating.
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Image from TAP. |
The EPCI contract is for the offshore section of the 36-in. pipeline between the coastlines of Albania and southern Italy. The installed offshore pipeline will be part of a natural gas transport system coming from Azerbaijan to Italy as part of the Shah Deniz Phase 2 field development in the Caspian Sea. The scope of work includes associated landfall civil works at the landfalls in both Albania and Italy, in addition to survey, seabed and pre-commissioning activities of the installed pipeline. TAP says that the pipeline length will be approximately 105km and the deepest water depth will be at about 820m
The second contract, for the line pipes and coating, will be divided into three lots. Lot 1 is for the supply of SAWL offshore line pipes and buckle arrestors, lot 2 is to supply internal flow coating and outer anticorrosion coating, and lot 3 is to supply of concrete weight coating and anodes.
“I am delighted to invite companies – including those from TAP’s host countries – to submit expressions of interest in line with the pre-qualification documentation now available on TED,” says Knut Steinar Kvindesland, TAP procurement director. “The selection of potential suppliers will remain rigorous, with particular emphasis on meeting health, safety and environment standards and a proven commitment to TAP’s zero harm policy.”
Following the selection stage, TAP aims to issue the related invitations to tender (ITT) for offshore construction by May 2015.
TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 870km-long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming onshore in Southern Italy.
TAP says its routing can facilitate gas supply to several Southeastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others. TAP’s landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities for further transport of Caspian natural gas to some of the largest European markets such as Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Austria.
TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Statoil (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).
The giant Shah Deniz
Shah Deniz is located on the deepwater shelf of the Caspian Sea, 70km off Azerbaijan, in 50-500m water depths. It was originally discovered in 1999.
Shah Deniz Stage I began in 2006. The development is currently producing about 26 MMcum of gas and 53,000 b/d of condensate, equivalent to about 225,000 boe/d.
The BP-operated gas field’s consortium elected to proceed to stage II in December 2013 as part of an overall plan to extend supplies to Europe. With the budget set at around US$28 billion, Stage II of the field will carry 16 billion cu. m/yr of gas 3500km to provide energy for consumers in Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Italy.
Shah Deniz Stage II is one of the largest gas developments in the world and will help increase European energy security by bringing Caspian gas resources to markets in Europe for the very first time. First production from phase II is expected by 2018. Gas deliveries to Europe are expected just over a year after first gas.
Read more:
Giant Shah Deniz DEH system takes shape
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