New Montrose Platform Successfully Installed

The Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR) in the UK North Sea has reached a major milestone with the successful installation of the new Montrose Bridge Linked Platform.

The 10,500 tonnes topsides was placed on the jacket by the SSCV Thialf crane vessel, marking the next phase of a project that will unlock an additional 100million boe of reserves and extend the life of the Montrose Area to beyond 2030. 

Installation of the topsides was followed by installation of the bridge linking it to the Montrose Alpha platform, and of the flare boom.  Work will now on the commissioning of the plant and integration of the wells, with first production from the Shaw field expected during the first quarter of 2017.

Bill Dunnett, Managing Director of Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Limited (expected to rebrand imminently from Talisman Sinopec Energy UK) said: “We’re very pleased to be able to report a safe and efficient installation of the new bridge-linked platform. This is a major step forward for this project and a tangible demonstration of the long term commitment of our shareholders – Repsol and Sinopec - and partner, Marubeni, to the UKCS. This is a completely new facility in our core infrastructure and will be a game-changer for this business. MAR adds significant production and maximises economic recovery from these historic assets.”

OGA chief executive Andy Samuel said: “The Oil and Gas Authority is very pleased to see this important milestone in the redevelopment of the Montrose Area, which adds new fields and significant reserves, and also maximises economic recovery and extends the life of the existing fields.”

The Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR) is a major capital project that sees the significant modification and expansion of the existing Montrose Area infrastructure, including the development of three new fields – Godwin, Cayley and Shaw. The new bridge-linked platform will be connected to the Montrose Alpha platform – one of the oldest in the North Sea – to provide additional process and plant support facilities. Gross incremental production is expected to peak at up to 40,000 boe per day.

Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Limited (Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Ltd) is the operator with a working interest of 58.97%, and Marubeni Oil & Gas (U.K.) Limited is the sole partner.

The topsides was built at Heerema Fabrication Group’s Zwijndrecht yard in the Netherlands from where it sailed out at the end of April.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Montrose Area, comprising the Montrose, Arbroath, Arkwright, Brechin, Wood, Godwin, Shaw and Cayley fields, is located in blocks 22/17, 22/18, 22/22 and 22/23, ~200 km east of Aberdeen

The Montrose Alpha platform was installed in 1976
The MAR project will unlock an additional 100 million boe of reserves and extend the life of the Montrose Area to beyond 2030
Subsea development works undertaken by Subsea 7 included the fabrication and installation of two 5km long pipeline bundles and the installation of a suite of production, water injection and gas lift pipelines and a control umbilical, 17km long
The BLP jacket weighs 5,745t and measures 119m in height; it was built at the OGN yard in Tyne & Wear
The bridge connecting Montrose Alpha and the new BLP measures 71m in length and weighs 350t. The bridge and flare were built at the Wilton Engineering Services yard on Teesside.
The MAR project has created and sustained more than 2,000 skilled jobs in the UK and Europe.