Houston-based Noble Energy has contracted Norway-headquartered Aker Solutions to provide umbilicals and subsea equipment for use in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Israel.
In the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Noble Energy sanctioned two subsea tieback projects in Mississippi Canyon in October 2013: the Big Bend portion of Rio Grande and Gunflint.
Big Bend, in MC Block 698, will initially be a 1-well tieback with first production estimated in late 2015. Gunflint, in MC Block 992, is planned to be a 2-well tieback to come online in mid-2016.
Noble Energy Senior Vice President Susan Cunningham told investors in December that the company expected a peak rate 37,000 Boe/d gross with 80% oil at Gunflint. Noble is investing US$345million (net) out of gross capital expenditure of $1.12billion, and and expects payout within 2 years of startup.
Aker will provide two electro-hydraulic steel tube umbilicals to control a subsea production system at the Gunflint field in 6000ft (1830m) of water. The field was discovered in 2008, and Noble Energy operates Gunflint (31.14% working interest), with partners Ecopetrol America Inc. (31.5 %), Marathon Oil Co. (18.23%), and Samson Offshore LLC (19.13%).
Aker will also provide electro-hydraulic steel tube and gas-lift umbilicals with subsea controls distribution equipment for the Big Bend portion of the Rio Grande project in water 7200ft deep. Big Bend was discovered in 2012, and Noble Energy operates with 54% WI.
Offshore Israel, Aker will supply subsea distribution equipment and a 7.5-mi-long infield umbilical to be installed in 5500ft water depth at the Tamar Southwest structure in the Levant basin. In October, Noble said Tamar SW has a gross natural gas resources of 500-900 Bcf.
Aker's projects are scheduled to be completed in 2014 and 2015.
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