Marginal Field Initiative adds Arup to its Consortium

The Marginal Field Initiative by ABT Oil and Gas (ABTOG), the joint venture between Enegi Oil Plc and ABTechnology, has signed a collaboration agreement with global engineering and design consultancy Arup, who became the latest member of the Marginal Field Delivery Consortium.

ABTOG has established the Consortium to assist in the delivery of its Marginal Field Initiative.

Prior to Arup’s addition, latest companies to join Kongsberg Maritime, Apollo, RMRI, and Braemar ACM in the Consortium, were AGR and Frames, who became members in June.

The Consortium sees Arup’s addition as a very positive step for the Initiative, adding that Arup has considerable project management experience that will enhance the Consortium’s ability to deliver its range of solutions to budget and on schedule.

According to Enegi’s statement, Arup also brings an additional proven-in-use structure (the ACE platform) that can house ABTOG’s normally unattended topsides.

Enegi further said that four of Arup’s range of ACE self-installing and redeployable platforms have been deployed to date; in Australia’s Bass Strait, the Taranaki Basin off New Zealand, the West Natuna Sea in Indonesia and the West Philippine Sea, with a fifth currently being developed for a field in the UK North Sea.

Enegi explained that these platforms combine the advantages of traditional fixed platforms with the versatility offered by a mobile unit and are particularly economical where reuse allows several reserves to be exploited, in areas of high decommissioning costs, or where access to specialist installation vessels is limited and costly.

ABTOG believes that such platforms are required for the development of certain small or marginal fields.

“The ACE has particular advantages for application to a number of the projects on which ABTOG is currently in discussion and, together with Arup’s extensive experience and expertise, will allow ABTOG and the Consortium to accelerate progress towards a major project,” Enegi has said.

Alan Minty, Chairman of Enegi, commented: “We are delighted that an organisation that is as well established and well respected as Arup so clearly sees the value in what ABTOG’s Consortium is doing. Their ACE structures represent a very credible and attractive option for a number of the projects on which ABTOG is currently in discussions, and Arup’s approach to project management is exactly what is required to ensure successful delivery of marginal field projects.

“Arup is the final essential member of the Consortium and their addition significantly enhances our coherent vision of how marginal field projects can be transformed and delivered on time and within budget.”

Rob Duffin, Oil and Gas Leader at Arup, said: “Arup is very pleased to be involved in ABTOG’s Marginal Field Delivery Consortium and believes that the lean and focussed approach being adopted is exactly that that is required to maximise recovery of resources in the North Sea and beyond at a time of lower oil prices.

“Our self-installing ACE platform is a proven and safe, environmentally sensitive, efficient and cost effective solution that fits well with the objectives of the Consortium and we look forward to working with all members to deliver real value and increased opportunities for our clients.”

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