Maersk Oil chooses Emerson for Culzean automation services

Oil and gas company Maersk Oil has awarded Emerson Process Management a contract to automate the Culzean gas field development located in the UK North Sea.

Maersk Oil and its co-venturers are investing around $4.5 billion in the Culzean development which is expected to meet around five percent of the UK’s total demand.

Three offshore platforms will support 12-slot wellheads and house a central processing facility, control room and living quarters. As the main automation contractor, Emerson will provide automation services and technologies for the three offshore platforms as well as for an onshore observation facility that can support remote operations if needed.

“Emerson has proven technology and a successful track record of managing budget and schedule risk in North Sea automation projects,” said Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management. “This experience positions us to support Maersk Oil in both the initial construction phase and the long-term operational success of this prestigious and important project.”

The company said it will provide project and support services from its UK headquarters in Leicester to help ensure on-schedule project execution, including system design and engineering, configuration, testing, installation and commissioning.

According to Emerson, the company’s process control and safety systems will perform emergency shutdowns if required, and control fire and gas detection systems.

Emerson added it will also provide measurement and control technologies for this ultra-high pressure and high temperature application, as well as asset management and machinery health monitoring technologies.

Production from the Culzean field is expected to start in 2019 and continue for at least 13 years.