Five contractors in the run for pipeline contract for North Sea gas project

Hartshead Resources NL and its joint venture partner RockRose have launched an invitation to tender for pipeline EPCI services for the Anning and Somerville fields located in the Southern North Sea, following completion of the pipeline route survey covering the offtake routes for gas production from the developments.

Gardline carried out the survey using the vessel Ocean Observer over a period of more than a month with a large amount of seabed technical and environmental data acquired.

According to Hartshead, all the objectives of the survey were met with over 1,000 kilometers of seismic lines run and 52 cone penetration tests (CPT) and 23 Vibrocores taken to help define the seabed status, along with 27 seabed samples and camera transects to identify any habitats and provide input to the environmental baseline survey.

The material recovered from the survey will undergo laboratory analysis, with results expected to be reported early in 2024, and will provide input to the environmental statement for the developments.

Elements of the full survey report will be used to support the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the pipelines EPCI, which has been issued as per the development contracting plan, to five “internationally recognized, leading” pipeline and subsea installation contracting companies, the company said.

Responses to the ITT are expected in the current quarter, which will then be evaluated as per internal Hartshead process. Tender award is expected in early 2024.

“We would like to thank the team involved in performing the survey work with extreme diligence and attention to safety, working in rapidly changing weather conditions and showing remarkable flexibility when changes to the programme were required,” said Keith Bush, Hartshead COO.

“The data gathered will allow us to progress the Environmental Statement as planned and ensure that tenders for the pipeline contracts reflect the real conditions on the seabed.”

Discovered in 1969, Anning and Somerville came online in 2008 and 1999, respectively. The fields ceased production in 2015, at which point Somerville had produced 48 bcf of gas and Anning had produced 16 bcf of gas.

RockRose Energy, part of UK-headquartered energy company Viaro Energy, in May wrapped up a farm-in agreement for a 60% working interest in Production Licence P.2607, which includes the Anning and Somerville fields. Hartshead has retained a 40% working interest in the license.