Amplus, Technip team up in marginal field development

Amplus Energy Services, an Aberdeen-based floating production solutions firm has teamed up with engineering and construction firm Technip, to develop marginal fields in the North Sea.

With much of the remaining reserves inaccessible using existing infrastructure, the two firms have joined forces using their individual expertise to provide an integrated and fit for purpose solution for challenging field developments, Amplus said in a statement issued Tuesday.

There is an estimated 24 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) still to be developed and produced in the UKCS and Sir Ian Wood’s report last year outlined a requirement for collaboration to maximise recovery of the country’s oil and gas resources.

The company has also highlighted the fact that this cooperation between Technip in the UK and Amplus is in line with the recommendations of the report and will help streamline costs, allowing companies to safely tap into more challenging reserves.

Who brings what to the table?

According to the statement issued by Amplus, Technip in the UK will bring its “extensive project management, engineering and market leading products to the relationship, developing cost efficient subsea infrastructure, while Amplus has developed an innovative dynamically positioned (DP) versatile production unit (VPU).”

Amplus says that its VPU utilises proven FPSO (floating, production, storage and offloading) and DP vessel technology. The vessel has been specifically designed to meet the rigorous safety and environmental conditions of the North Sea and is also suitable for projects in other areas of the world such as West Africa, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and South East Asia, the company explains.

Amplus further explains that the VPU has evolved from proven DP FPSO technology, from a major oil and gas operator, and the Disconnectable Turret System (DTS) is field proven in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Australia. It boasts 200,000bbl oil storage capacity and a NOV designed topsides processing system.

Amplus managing director, Ian Herd, said: “Working alongside such a global leader as Technip to support the subsea infrastructure brings immense benefits to Amplus and offers the industry a strong collaboration to get these smaller fields developed. Our VPU design coupled with Technip’s vast worldwide expertise in subsea infrastructure is a winning combination offering a strong, reliable and cost effective option for the industry.”

Bill Morrice, managing director of Technip in the UK said: “This collaboration with Amplus is exciting and is a positive news story for the industry as a whole, and one which we hope will open new avenues for challenging field developments.”

Amplus and Technip in the UK are already jointly evaluating two potential projects in the West of Shetland and the Central North Sea.