Caspian Sea Shipyard Wins BP Exploration SCV Contract

Keppel supported Baku Shipyard has won a first major contract from BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) Ltd, the operator of the Shah Deniz gas field development, to design and build a Subsea Construction Vessel (SCV). The contract is worth US$378-million, say the shipyard.

When completed, the SCV will be deployed for the Stage 2 development of the Shah Deniz field, which lies some 70 kilometres offshore in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.

The Shah Deniz Stage 2 project requires a subsea installation vessel to install the subsea structures over 11 years between 2017 and 2027.

The vessel will include dynamic positioning to allow for work in 2.5 metres significant wave height (Hs), a 750 metric tonne-main crane for 600 metres-deep subsea operation, an 18-men two-bell diving system, two work-class remotely operated vehicles, a strengthened moon pool, two engine rooms with 6x4.4MW + 2x3.2MW engines and a deadweight of 5,000 metric tonnes at 6.5 metres draft.

The SCV will be designed by Marine Technology Development, the ship design and development arm of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) and is expected to be completed in April 2017.

Mr Rovnag Abdullayev, President of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), said, "We are very privileged that BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) has chosen Baku Shipyard to design and build the SCV which will support the Shah Deniz gas field Stage 2 development. We believe that Baku Shipyard, under the management of leading global offshore and marine group Keppel O&M, is well placed to support Azerbaijan's growth in the oil and gas sector, and we look forward to building up our track record with more significant contract wins in the years ahead."

The SCV is the first major contract secured by Baku Shipyard since its inauguration by President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, in September 2013. The shipbuilding yard was jointly developed by SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) and Keppel O&M. SOCAR, AIC and Keppel O&M own 65%, 25% and 10% share in the yard respectively.