TWO Great Yarmouth companies have been involved with the instillation of a second major platform for the oil and gas supplier in Angola. The conductor-supported platforms are innovative in design and ideal for the shallow water Morsa West field development.

TWO Great Yarmouth companies have been involved with the instillation of a second major platform for the oil and gas supplier in Angola.

The conductor-supported platforms are innovative in design and ideal for the shallow water Morsa West field development. They were fabricated in Yarmouth and shipped to Angola where they were installed by Norwich-based company Aquaterra Energy.

As well as the structural design and installation of the platforms, Aquaterra also landed a multi-million pound contract for the HUC (hook-up and commissioning) of both Sea Swift platforms along with a third previously-installed minimum facility platform within the same Morsa West field.

The HUC work proved a particular triumph for Norfolk with two Yarmouth specialist companies involved.

E-Tech Group was called in to provide the electrical and instrumentation package for the project, using its “total solutions” philosophy. Through this they secured the services of one of their strategic alliance partners, 3sun.

3sun, control and instrumentation specialists, supplied the hydraulic/small bore tubing runs connecting the wellheads to the process facilities and utilities on the platforms.

E-Tech Group and 3sun jointly supplied a team of technicians to work on the platforms during the construction phase in Yarmouth and in the field in Angola during the commissioning and hook-up.

“Aquaterra's involvement in all three projects is on the critical path to first oil, therefore good project management and forward planning has been essential to minimise rig time and meet client deadlines,” said the company's managing director George Morrison.

“All three commissioning projects are progressing well and first oil on the Morsa West platform should be achieved early in the New Year.”

Gary Williams, E-Tech director, said: “As a result of this contract, and similar work, a special relationship has been formed between us and 3sun and we hope there will be other joint ventures in future. It's encouraging to see Norfolk companies combining their skills to work closely together.”

Graham Hacon, 3sun director, said: “We are proud to have been involved in this pioneering work with Aquaterra's minimum facility platform and delighted to see Norfolk at the sharp end of a global industry.”

Mr Morrison said Aquaterra was looking forward to installing and commissioning more Sea Swift platforms for other oil and gas operators worldwide, again involving specialist local oil and gas companies like E-Tech and 3Sun.

Picture: submitted