DNV GL for UK Catcher FPSO
Kenneth Vareide, Executive Vice President and Director of Offshore Classification at DNV GL
BW Offshore selected DNV GL to provide classification, verification and certification services for the Catcher FPSO being deployed in the UK North Sea.
DNV GL is already providing similar services to 70% of the FPSOs on the UK shelf and has delivered all the newbuild FPSOs to the sector since 2000.
BW Offshore’s scope of supply includes the delivery of an FPSO with a processing capacity of 60,000 bopd and a storage capacity of 650,000 bbl, its mooring system, installation and operation. The company is ordering a new hull from Japan, while conversion and integration work will be performed in Singapore. DNV GL will provide expertise from bases in Japan, Singapore, the UK and Norway to support the project.
“Given the DNV GL track record, their technical expertise and our previous experiences with DNV GL in general, we are confident DNV GL is the best suited classification society for this project,” says Steve Sinclair, Catcher Project Manager, BW Offshore.
"For a multi-national project like this it is of utmost importance that the efforts of everyone involved are well coordinated", says Angus Milne, Head of DNV GL’s London Approval Centre. “Our global support network enables BW Offshore to take advantage of the synergies we can deliver by integrating and managing this effort both locally and at a project-wide level.”
The DNV GL classed/verified FPSO fleet constitutes a mix of conversions and newbuildings, harsh and benign environment equipment.
“In the past decade, DNV GL’s unique position in UK waters has proven critical to stakeholders, and this project will continue to reinforce our position in the North Sea.” says Kenneth Vareide, Executive Vice President and Director of Offshore Classification at DNV GL.
Located 180km east of Aberdeen, the Catcher project includes the development of three main oil and gas fields, Catcher, Varadero and Burgman. The field is owned by Premier Oil (50%, operator), Cairn Energy (CRNZF) (30%) and MOL (20%). The BW Offshore charter period of the contract is 7 years, with extension options of up to 18 years. Based on a field life of 10 years, the contract value is USD 2.3 billion including FPSO charter rate and opex.
The FPSO is expected to commence production in mid-2017.
