July 08, 2021 • 2 min read
Significant milestone hit on Buzzard Phase II project
Two weeks ago, our team witnessed the 516-tonne Buzzard Phase II (BPII) module being transported from Rosenberg Worley’s fabrication yard in Stavanger to the Buzzard asset on Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit heavy lift vessel.
The Buzzard facility in the North Sea
“Sometimes you get to be a part of things in your career that you know you won’t forget,” says Svein Berg, Project Manager, Rosenberg Worley. “And being a part of the BPII module's journey after three years of engineering, designing and fabrication and commissioning, to the Buzzard asset has been incredible.
“The load out of the module was seamless and watching it sail away to its final destination made the whole team proud.”
Expanding the Buzzard field development
The BPII project is an expansion of the existing Buzzard field development for CNOOC International. It includes a sub-sea production and water injection manifold at a new drill centre, tied back to the existing Buzzard facility.
We were awarded the contract for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) in 2018 and the work was led by our Aberdeen office. Fabrication and commissioning being done by Rosenberg Worley. The initial FEED was carried out before work later transferred to the module design and build.
Around 150 people from our onshore, offshore and fabrication teams have been involved in the project. It’s covered 1.1 million workhours to date, with an outstanding safety performance that we are committed to sustaining for the remainder of the project.
“We completed the fabrication and mechanical completion with all the challenges that the global pandemic brought,” says Mark Kilpatrick, Project Manager, Aberdeen. “This included less travel to site and managing the project remotely.
“The module has now been fastened to the asset allowing for us to commence initial life support. We will now deliver and manage the offshore campaign comprising the hook up and commissioning to support module access.”
A bright future of UKCS supply chain collaboration
We are working as part of an alliance model on the BPII project, which provides CNOOC International with the broad spectrum of expertise available across the UK Continental Shelf supply chain.
“The load out and installation of the BPII module marks a symbolic milestone for the BPII Alliance. It represents unity and defines that supply chain collaboration is paving the way for the future of our industry,” says Daniel McAteer, Vice President, Aberdeen Operations. “Whether that be traditional brownfield scopes of work or partnering on new, innovative energy transition initiatives, we must work together to achieve our common goals.
“We’ve achieved so much already. And we’re looking forward to completing the next stage of the project later this year.”
