After successfully managing the supply of power and control cables to the first three phases of the ACG Chirag Oil Project, R&M Electrical were chosen to provide the electrical and cabling requirements to the fourth stage of the project COP – the West Chirag – topsides facility (operated by BP on behalf of AIOC in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea).
Selected for our proven track record of both supplying and project managing similar projects throughout the world, R&M have particular experience of successfully offering supply solutions into the Caspian Sea Area – and the specific challenges this creates.
R&M Electrical won the $12 million contract to supply electrical and cabling products, with a full documentation package to the project. Originally consisting of the CS02 Package (Cable and accessories – cable, glands, terminations kits and cleats), the CS03 Package (Electrical Bulks – lighting, plugs, sockets, control stations, electrical junction boxes and transit systems) and the CS48 Package (Instrumentation junction boxes) , R&M went on to also supply Commissioning spares and Operating & Maintenance spares to the project, over a period of 3 years.
In early September 2013 the West Chirag Platform left the AMEC-TEKFEN-AZFEN (ATA) fabrication yard in Bibi-Heybat to be installed offshore onto the jacket in the ACG (Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli) field, which is located approximately 120km off of the coast of Azerbaijan and has an estimated yield of 5.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
Boasting an estimated load-out weight of 20,000 tonnes, the West Chirag topsides is the heaviest structure ever installed in the Caspian, and boosted the local economy by being fully constructed in Baku using local infrastructure at the afore mentioned ATA fabrication yard.
The facility is a single integrated deck comprising a production platform, drilling module, utilities and living quarters, and is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2013.