Subsea7 has announced a significant new contract awarded by bp to the Subsea Integration Alliance for the Murlach development, located 240 kilometers east of Aberdeen in the UK North Sea. This project, formerly known as the Skua field, represents a major step forward in subsea engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI).
The scope of work for this project includes the deployment of subsea pipelines and production systems. Notably, it marks the first use of OneSubsea’s standard, configurable, vertical monobore tree systems in the UK North Sea. These systems are designed to be deployed via vessel, reducing the number of days needed for drill rigs. OneSubsea, a key player in this alliance, will deliver two vertical monobore trees, a two-slot manifold, and associated topside controls. This technology solution, developed in collaboration with bp, leverages OneSubsea’s proven equipment to simplify design and accelerate installation compared to traditional subsea systems.
Subsea7’s responsibilities include the installation of eight kilometers of rigid flowline and two flexible jumpers, along with other subsea infrastructure. The new flowline will be connected to the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) facility. Fabrication of the pipelines will take place at Subsea7’s spoolbase in Vigra, Norway, with offshore operations scheduled for 2025.
Olivier Blaringhem, Chief Executive Officer of Subsea Integration Alliance, emphasized the significance of this project, stating, “This is bp’s third fully integrated EPCI project with Subsea Integration Alliance, marking an important milestone as we extend our support to the UK North Sea market.” This statement underscores the growing partnership and trust between bp and the Alliance.
Hani El Kurd, Senior Vice President for Subsea7 UK & Global Inspection, Repair and Maintenance, expressed his enthusiasm for the contract, saying, “We are delighted to be awarded this contract by bp, as it recognizes Subsea Integration Alliance’s global reputation for seamless, full subsea system delivery. Subsea7 has a long relationship with bp, and we look forward to supporting their Murlach development.” This reinforces the established relationship and the commitment to delivering high-quality subsea solutions.
