Africa: Saipem and ABL join forces for an offshore gas project.

ABL, a subsidiary of the Oslo-listed energy and marine consultancy ABL Group, has been selected to support Saipem, the Italian engineering, drilling and construction services company, in the implementation of a natural gas project off the coast of Libya.

In August 2023, Saipem was awarded a $1 billion EPCIC (engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning) contract with Mellitah Oil & Gas Libyan Branch. This consortium, formed by the National Oil Corporation of Libya and Eni North Africa, aims to modernise the platforms and facilities of the Bouri gas field as part of the Bouri Gas Utilisation Project (BGUP).

ABL, through a Marine Warranty Inspection Services (MWS) contract, will monitor marine transportation and installation (T&I) operations related to the BGUP. This project aims to improve the overall carbon footprint of the gas field by significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

Sergio Leone, MWS Project Manager and ABL Business Development Manager, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen to support Saipem on this project, continuing our successful collaboration with the company. The BGUP project aims to boost natural gas production in Libya and further supply North Africa."

Located 120 km north-west of Tripoli, the Bouri field is part of Block NC-41 in the Mediterranean Sea, and lies at a depth of between 145 and 183 metres. The main heavy-lift operations will be carried out by the semi-submersible crane vessel Saipem 7000.

Saipem is responsible for installing a 5,000-tonne gas recovery module (GRM) on the existing DP4 platform, as well as laying 28 km of pipelines linking the DP3, DP4 and Sabratha platforms. For its part, ABL will carry out technical reviews and approve documentation, drawings and calculations relating to the project's marine operations.

The Norwegian group will also provide suitability studies and other marine insurance services, including DP testing if required. On-site presence will be provided to review and validate marine operations.

Shai Tzucker, ABL's Director of Energy Operations in Europe and West Africa, said: "Although the project will be managed from our headquarters in London, our inspections and site visits will be carried out by our network of experts in Europe and North Africa. We have extensive MWS experience, particularly in neighbouring Egypt.

In addition, Mellitah Oil & Gas has announced a tender for an EPCC (engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning) project to extend another offshore facility in Libya. The tender is expected to run from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025, with work scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2025.