bp: ACE project almost reaches 80% progress milestone

By the end of the third quarter of 2022, the Azeri Central East (ACE) project had almost reached the 80 percent progress milestone, Report informs, citing the bp-Azerbaijan business update for the third quarter of 2022.

During the third quarter, the Azeri Central East platform topsides and drilling facilities fabrication activities continued at the fabrication yard in Bibi-Heybat.

The integration of the drilling facilities into the topsides progressed with both the modular drilling support module (MDSM) and the drilling equipment set (DES) fully handed over to commissioning and the drilling rig skidding commissioning commenced.

This followed the safe execution of the 2,350 tonnes MDSM and the 2,400 tonnes DES jack up to the final height of around 27 meters and then the successful skid onto the topsides deck. This was a carefully planned complex “Jack and Skid” operation and a first for bp globally.

bp noted that the topsides mechanical completion handovers progressed significantly supporting the ramp-up of the commissioning activity. The topsides commissioning reached the 50 percent progress milestone.

The living quarters' helideck third-party testing certification was completed, and only two mechanical completion handovers across the living quarter modules are yet to be finalized.

At the Heydar Aliyev Baku Deepwater Jacket factory (BDJF), the jacket is almost ready for loadout planned for early 2023.

The STB-01 transportation barge underwent the required modifications and renewed her class certification. The barge then arrived at BDJF where reactivation and sponsons installation activities commenced.

The gas export infield pipeline between the Central Azeri and East Azeri platforms successfully restarted following the ACE tie-in campaign.

The subsea construction vessel Khankendi installed the oil plug retrieval and isolation structure (PRIS/Wye structure), and the diving support vessel subsequently completed all metrology for the oil system spools.

The pipelay barge Israfil Huseynov completed the 16” subsea water injection pipelay.

At the Sangachal terminal, onshore site construction and standalone commissioning activities for the ACE operations control from the shore were completed, and integration works with ACE topsides commenced.

The project also commenced offshore execution for the ACE oil pipeline tie-in scope on the Central Azeri platform.

All engineering, procurement, and onshore fabrication works remain on track to be completed in 2023.