Subsea 7 tows pipeline bundle to Buzzard field

Published on 30-07-2021 at 15:36

Photo source: Subsea 7

Subsea 7 has completed another milestone for the CNOOC International Buzzard Phase II project by installing the 5km pipeline bundle. The complete 5,500-tonne system was towed 150 kilometers from the company’s Wester fabrication site near Wick, Scotland, to the Buzzard field in the North Sea’s Outer Moray Firth.

Subsea 7 noted its 88th Pipeline Bundle in 40 years is now in the Buzzard field ready to link the new northern area wells back to the existing platform. Subsea 7 was awarded the contract in 2018 for the project management, engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the Bundle, along with associated well and platform tie-ins.

Subsea 7 delivers the right fit

The bundle technology provides all subsea production, water injection and gas lift flowlines, as well as control functions and end manifolds in a single integrated system, which is fully fabricated and tested onshore. The BPII bundle system also incorporates a large drill centre manifold (36m long and 300 tonnes), allowing for up to 12 wells to be tied-in.

The system was towed to the Buzzard field using a specialised mid-depth tow method.

Last of major milestones

This is the latest in a series of major achievements for the project which is being delivered using an innovative Alliance model. Last month saw the installation of the new topside module, with Subsea 7 working closely with Allseas and fellow Alliance members CNOOC International and Worley. This is an example of how Alliance contracting models can be used to maximise collaboration on projects to deliver superior outcomes.

Willie Geddes, Alliance delivery manager and project director for Subsea 7, said, “It’s fantastic that we can celebrate the arrival of the subsea pipeline system into the field, taking us another major step towards the completion of this project. Thanks to a tremendous collective effort by the Alliance companies, everything is in place to proceed with the final hook-up and commissioning of the subsea and topside systems.”

Steve Wisely, senior vice president, UK & Global IRM for Subsea 7, added, “With each Buzzard milestone we see the value that this Alliance partnership offers our client. Using this integrated, flexible and mutually beneficial approach creates a greater degree of collaboration, while enhancing project execution agility and performance. We are proud to be part of Team Buzzard, and in doing so provide another opportunity to demonstrate how effective a unified supply chain collaboration can be.”