Aker Solutions goes subsea for Shell in Gulf of Mexico

Aker Solutions has signed three subsea contracts with Shell Offshore Inc for deliveries to the operator's Popeye and Europa fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Contract values are undisclosed.

Under the contracts, Aker Solutions will in total deliver approximately 40 km (25 miles) of electro-hydraulic steel tube umbilicals to Shell's Popeye field and Europa field extension. Aker Solutions will also install the umbilical for the Popeye field, using the company's deepwater installation vessel Boa Sub C.

"We have a strategic objective of combining our product and service offerings where they can create attractive business propositions for our customers. The contracts with Shell, where we will first manufacture the subsea umbilical and then install it, is one way of doing this," says Erik Wiik, President - Subsea North America, Aker Solutions.

Engineering, project management, and manufacturing will take place at Aker Solutions' state-of-the-art umbilical facility in Mobile, Alabama. .

"This is an important contract for our umbilical facility in Mobile, Alabama. Although we have vast experience with Shell through our umbilical operations in Norway, this is our first Shell umbilical project to be executed by our team in Mobile, Alabama. Our key objective is excellent project execution, which will position us for further jobs with Shell," adds Wiik.

The Popeye field is located in Green Canyon block 116 in approximately 671.6 metres (2,200 ft) water depth and will tie-back to the Cougar fixed platform located in South Timbalier block 300 in 110.3 metres (362 ft) water depth.

The Europa A7 well is located in Mississippi Canyon block 935 in approximately 1143 metres (3750 ft) water depth and will tie-back to existing Europa subsea structure. The Europa development ties back to the Mars TLP located in Mississippi Canyon block 807 in 896 metres (2,940 ft) water depth.

Aker Solutions' contract parties are Aker Subsea Inc and Aker Marine Contractors Inc. The contracts are signed and booked as order intake in Q3 2010.