An EPIL-led consortium—with Saipem as the engineering partner—was awarded the contract for Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning (EPCIC) of four new well platforms by ONGC. Of these, three platforms are in the C-26 Cluster (C-23, C-26 and B-12-1) in the Tapti field, situated 160 km-200 km to the north-west of Mumbai in water depths of 20 m-30 m. The fourth platform—B-173 AB—is adjacent to an existing B-173 A platform in the Neelam field, situated 50 km west of Mumbai in water depths of around 55 m. The project also involved installing a bridge connecting the new B-173 AB platform with the operational B-173 A platform, including structural and process modifications related to the integration of the two platforms. The value of the contract is around Rs 550 crore (or about $90 million).

The project entailed procurement, fabrication and installation of approximately 10,000 tonnes of steel. The primary structures of the platforms were fabricated at Adyard, Abu Dhabi, and transported to India. Fabrication activities for associated structures were executed simultaneously from four different locations of sub-vendors of Adyard. As a result, the Essar Projects team managed to complete most of the work, including major installations of deck and jacket, before the close of clear weather window in May 2016. The remaining hook-up and pre-commissioning work was executed after the end of the 2016 monsoons.

The project demanded stringent safety precautions and execution precision. The installation had to be carried out in hostile environmental conditions characterised by strong ocean currents and poor underwater visibility. Working on the C-23 platform proved to be especially challenging because of the low water depths and strong currents. The execution also needed to be planned to perfection, given a short clear weather window (October–May). This called for timely delivery of material and fabricated structures, and the readiness of pre-installation aids. While modifying the operational B-173A platform and installing the connecting bridge, additional precautions had to be taken to mitigate the risk posed by the presence of Hydrogen Sulphide gas.

Mr AV Amarnath, COO-EPIL, said: “We would like to acknowledge the support extended by ONGC during the execution of this prestigious project. The successful commissioning of the C-26 cluster is one more feather in EPIL’s cap. Incidentally, we are the first Indian company that ventured into the challenging business of offshore construction in the late 1980s, executing the Bassein field WIPPM (Water Injection and Platform & Pipeline Modification) project for ONGC. Since then, EPIL has provided a range of project management and EPCIC services to various clients in the offshore sector. ONGC itself has been a long-standing client. In the recent past, EPIL has executed EPC contracts for reconstructing six platforms in the Neelam-Heera Process Complex, as well as three SMART platforms, offshore pipelines, composite cables and PLEM in the D1 field. Apart from this, the company has successfully executed a series of difficult projects, including transporting and installing mooring systems, and laying offshore pipelines at various locations in the challenging waters of the Baseein and Panna fields, as well as the Gulf of Kutch.”

About Essar Projects India Ltd.

Essar Projects India Limited (EPIL) is a major EPC company of the Essar Group, offering unique collaborative end-to-end project delivery model that is backward integrated into the supply chain and forward integrated into the operator’s mindset through its sister company links.

It has over four decades of experience executing mega projects in Hydrocarbons (Refinery, Petrochemical & Fertiliser Plants); Tankages and Terminals; Pipelines (Oil & Gas, Water, Slurry and Subsea); Offshore (Platforms, SPM & PLEM); Infrastructure (Ports, Jetties, Airports, Railway, Buildings & Townships); Minerals & Metals (Steel Plants, Sinter Feed, Beneficiation & Pelletisation Plants, Material Handling Systems); and Power Plants (Coal, Gas, Multi-fuel and Hydel).

Active participation in initial operations and maintenance through the stabilisation phase of projects executed for its Group companies has sharpened EPIL’s skills, adding the O&M experience in EPC execution of turnkey projects. Unlike other contractors, EPIL is therefore able to extend EPC from concept to commissioning and beyond.

It has an ‘in-house’ multidisciplinary skilled and experienced Engineering & Project Management Division geared to provide end-to-end solutions on a nut & bolt concept. It also has a Procurement division with strong vendor networks. The company owns a state-of-the-art fabrication facility and a large bank of construction equipment.

About Saipem

Saipem is one of the world leaders in drilling services, as well as in the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of pipelines and complex projects, onshore and offshore, in the oil & gas market. The company has distinctive competences in operations in harsh environments, remote areas and deepwater. Saipem provides a full range of services with “EPC” and “EPCI” contracts (on a “turnkey” basis) and has distinctive capabilities and unique assets with a high technological content.

About ONGC

ONGC is a Government of India (GoI) company engaged in the business of exploration and production of oil and gas in India and abroad with the objective of increasing the degree of energy self-sufficiency of India through exploring and producing hydrocarbons in a most optimum manner. Additionally, ONGC is in production and marketing of value added petroleum products, refining and downstream activities.