Dutch offshore access solutions provider Ampelmann has signed an agreement with the Sakhalin Energy consortium to provide its offshore access solutions for the Sakhalin-2 field.
Under the agreement, Ampelmann will deliver the winterized version of the motion compensated gangway system which will, according to Ampelmann, allow the transfer of work crew at temperatures of up to -28 degrees.
The Dutch company claims this gangway solution is industry’s first motion compensated gangway system operable at minus 28 degrees Celsius. Thus the convenient name for the system – the Iceman.
This system should allow Sakhalin Energy to continue maintenance and increase offshore personnel on board (POB) year round in the Sakhalin-2 field located in the Russian far east, offshore Sakhalin Island in the Sea of Okhotsk.
Ampelmann said the winterized gangway would be installed on one of Sakhalin Energy’s new ice-breaking support vessels expected to be delivered next year.
The contract duration will be for 10 years. In addition, Sakhalin Energy will charter a standard, non-winterized version of the Ampelmann motion compensated gangway for 5 years, to be installed on a second ice breaking support vessel and to support the personnel transfer requirements during the summer period.
Jim Craig , CEO Ampelmann: “We are delighte d to have reached this next milestone in our cooperation with Sakhalin Energy, which started in 2013. Since then, Sakhalin Energy has been using our service to support the summer operations with the intention to gain experience with our system.”
The Sakhalin-2 is the first project in Russia with offshore oil and gas producing platforms installed. The project infrastructure includes three offshore platforms, an onshore processing facility, 300 kilometres of offshore pipelines and 1,600km of onshore pipelines, an oil export terminal and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.
Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, the consortium developing the project is lead by Gazprom, which has a 50 percent stake in the consortium. Other members are Shell with 27.5, Mitsui with 12.5 and Mitsubishi with 10 percent.