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Iraq Crude Oil Export and Expansion Project (ICOEEP)
Client: SOC/Foster Wheeler
Location: Iraq, 2008 to 2012
Project description:
Iraq plans to increase its oil export capacity by constructing new pipelines to new loading facilities about 65km offshore in the Arabian Gulf. The new facilities include a Subsea Valve Manifold and a Central Metering and Monitoring Platform feeding four new SBM’s. There was a requirement for both a large scale UXO survey and a site investigation survey for Front End Engineering Design.
PCAL’s role:
PCAL assisted the client with the contractual strategy for the surveys as well as the technical evaluation of bids.
It was decided to separate the site investigation work from the UXO search so that design work could progress regardless of the outcome of the UXO search. Two survey contractors were selected: one to undertake a bathymetric, geophysical and geotechnical investigations and the other to focus on the UXO search.
The pipeline route corridor was 65km long, about 10km of which was in water depths less than 5m. The UXO work was undertaken from four different vessels, including a very shallow vessel towing a sled with catamaran mounted gradiometers. The initial bathymetric and geophysical survey involved two vessels, one of which was shallow draft to investigate the nearshore area. Geotechnical sampling for the pipeline routes was carried out from the geophysical vessel and deeper cores for foundation design were carried out from a specialist drilling vessel.
PCAL provided a team of surveyors and geophysicists to supervise the offshore works and quality check the data.
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The result:
The project has now moved into the construction phase and PCAL are providing supervision of dredging and other construction activities including pipelay and the installation of SBM’s and subsea manifolds.
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Kingsnorth Carbon Capture and Storage Project
Client: E.ON
Location: Southern North Sea, 2010
Project description:
E.ON were studying the feasibility
of constructing a Carbon Capture and Storage Facility, which would involve the use of clean coal at the Kingsnorth Power Station and transferring CO2 to depleted gas wells in the Southern North Sea. This would eventually involve the construction of a new subsea pipeline extending from the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary to the Hewett Field.
PCAL’s role:
PCAL liaised with the appointed Pipeline Engineers and Environmental Consultants to develop an economic Scope of Work and Specifications for field survey and then prepared appropriate Tender documentation. We carried out the bid evaluation on behalf of E.ON and then assisted them with the contract negotiations. PCAL then provided a team of surveyors and geophysicists to supervise the offshore survey, which involved multibeam bathymetry, side scan sonar and sub-bottom profiling as well
as vibro-coring and CPT’s.
The result:
The survey was completed within budget and within the allotted timescale in the project schedule.
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Algeria-Spain Pipeline Route Investigation
Client: MedGaz
Location: Madrid, 2002
Project description:
A consortium of international Operating Companies was investigating the possibility of installing a pipeline to transmit gas from Algeria to Spain. Various route options had been considered but all of them traversed water depths in excess of 2000m. Prior to this stage of the project (2002) technical limitations had prevented construction of a pipeline in such water depths.
PCAL’s role:
PCAL were brought into the project at an early stage to help define the route options. This involved a review of 30 year old data collected by manned submarine. We provided a Senior Survey Engineer to assist with the preparation of an ITT for survey, carried out a detailed evaluation of contractor bids, helped negotiate the survey contract and then provided suitably experienced personnel to supervise the offshore works. The deepwater section was carried out using an AUV and the nearshore sections were performed with a smaller vessel using standard geophysical and geotechnical techniques. PCAL personnel remained involved throughout the reporting and early engineering phase.
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The result:
After further detailed investigation of anomalous areas the pipeline design was completed and the pipeline was safely constructed in 2008.
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Expert Opinion Report
Client: Confidential
Location: Far East
Project description:
Following cargo operations at a drilling rig, a Supply Vessel was accused of causing damage to an underwater pipeline by hooking it with an anchor.
PCAL’s role:
Paul Clasper & Associates Ltd were engaged to prepare an expert review of the common bundle of documents and the documents provided by the plaintiff party.
The scope of work included:
1) Review the Common Bundle of Documents and Plaintiff’s Documents as provided.
2) Assess the extent of damage to the pipeline
3) Provide an opinion on the required repair works
The resulting report detailed the condition of the assets following the incident and the scope and cost of contracted repair work required. It also summarised contractor’s commercial proposals for the repair and the history of negotiations with contractors.
The result:
The report’s conclusions commented on the state of the pipelines before and after the incident; with further discussion on the contractual implications of the execution of damage repair works.
The report was used by the vessel owner’s legal team to evaluate and challenge the repair costs incurred by the asset’s owners as a result of the incident.
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