Technip has been awarded a contract, worth approximately €70 million, by Total E&P UK Limited, as operator of the Islay Gas Field, to deliver a full EPCI(1) project in the UK North Sea. The Islay field is located in the North Sea, 440 kilometres north-east of Aberdeen, in 120 metres of water depth.

The contract will involve the world's first subsea implementation of Technip's reelable, electrically trace heated pipe-in-pipe (ETH-PIP) technology. ETH-PIP aims to enhance production operability of subsea pipelines that are liable to become blocked by the formation of hydrates or wax. Successful application of this technology will reduce capital and operating costs for fields with challenging flow assurance conditions. The Islay project is a pilot project for the use of this innovative pipeline technology, which is designed for both shallow and deepwater environments.

The full workscope covers installation of a 6-kilometer ETH-PIP, control umbilical, subsea structures and seabed preparation, including detailed design, engineering and project management.

Technip's operating center in Aberdeen, Scotland will execute the contract, supported by the Evanton, Scotland spoolbase and Group entities Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants and Duco. Offshore installation is scheduled for mid-2011 and will be carried out by vessels from the Technip fleet, including the new pipelay vessel, Apache II, and diving support vessels Skandi Arctic and Skandi Achiever.

(1) EPCI - engineering, procurement, construction and installation (2) ETH-PIP - reelable electrically trace heated pipe-in-pipe: a new technology developed and qualified by Technip for use in shallow and deepwater applications alike and qualified by Technip and Total for higher temperature applications. Successful deployment of ETH-PIP will enhance or enable production operability in certain flow and temperature conditions, where subsea pipelines transporting hydrocarbons are liable to blockage through the formation of hydrates or wax.

Tags: Technip