Petronas, Shell and TMJV achieve major milestone in deepwater platform
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Shell and Technip-Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Bhd (MMHE) joint venture (TMJV) have safely integrated the topsides of its Malikai deepwater platform onto the hull, at Pasir Gudang, Johor, making it the world’s first jacking and skidding operation accomplished at this scale.
Shell and TMJV in a joint statement said that this achievement was completed safely and on time. It was also considered a major milestone for the company as it is the first Tension Leg Platform (TLP) designed and fabricated in Malaysia.
Petronas is pleased with this achievement, which was completed safely and on time, as this marks a significant milestone in realising its aspiration to be one of the main hubs for deepwater development in this region.
This also allows transfer of knowledge, technology and capability to Malaysian yards.
Simon Ong, managing director, Shell Global Solutions Malaysia, Projects & Technology said that this record-breaking feat was achieved thanks to the excellent collaboration among Petronas, Shell, TMJV, ALE Heavylift Sdn Bhd (ALE) and Shell’s other subcontractors.
“Unlocking energy in deep water below the ocean’s surface poses major technical and project management challenges. It also requires advanced technologies, high safety standards and a responsible approach.
“Our projects in Malaysia have allowed Shell to share deep-water expertise with the Malaysian oil and gas industry, assisting in the government’s goal to create an offshore industry hub,” Ong said.
Tuan Haji Abu Fitri Abdul Jalil, managing director and chief executive officer of MMHE, concurred that Malikai will be Malaysia’s third deepwater project to be safely completed by MMHE.
“This project has helped develop local deepwater resources, infrastructure and expertise, towards securing Malaysia’s position as a regional deepwater hub and centre of excellence,” Abu Fitri said.
“We are very proud to see the results of our mutual cooperation coming to fruition. The ‘superlift’ brings us a step closer to completing the first Tension Leg Platform for Malaysia.
“The Shell Malikai TLP adds to our technological leadership in executing and delivering Malaysia’s deepwater field development projects and the world’s first two floating LNG facilities – Petronas FNLG 1 and Shell Prelude – which will be based in the Asia Pacific,” said KK Lim, president of Technip in Asia Pacific.
In July, a platform piece weighing as much as 14,000 average family cars was manoeuvred at a record-breaking height. Specially-built structures lifted the 13,800 tonne ‘topside’ – which include production equipment and living quarters – to a height of 40 metres before moving 90 metres across and lowering down onto the hull.
The operation was completed in just 11 days, followed by weeks of integrating systems and testing. In total, the integrated platform – the first of its kind in Malaysia – weighs 27,500 tonnes.
Leading up to the ‘superlift’, over 100 pieces of major equipment were successfully installed. Around 9,000 pipe spools were fabricated and installed on the topsides, and approximately 640 kilometres (equivalent to a roundtrip from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru) of electric cables were pulled.
Located 100km offshore in Sabah, Malikai is Shell’s second deep-water project in Malaysia, following the successful start-up of Gumusut-Kakap last year.
Malikai is expected to have a production capacity of 60,000 barrels per day.
Globally, Shell has produced around 370,000 barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) every day from deep-water projects in 2014, comprising nearly 12 per cent of the group’s total global production.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around 270 billion barrels of recoverable oil lie beneath deep water. Deep-water oil already accounts for seven per cent of all conventional oil produced.
The IEA predicts an expansion to 11 per cent in 2040, reaching a level of almost 11 million barrels a day.
https://www.theborneopost.com/2015/09/21/petronas-shell-and-tmjv-achieve-major-milestone/