Emerson Process Management reported March 14 that it won a contract to automate the Maersk Oil Culzean gas field development in the North Sea. One of the region's largest gas discoveries, the Culzean field is expected to meet about 5% of total U.K. demand. Production is expected to start in 2019 and continue for at least 13 years.
Maersk and its partners are investing about $4.5 billion in the Culzean project. Three offshore platforms will support 12-slot wellheads, and house a central processing facility, control room and living quarters. As main automation contractor, Emerson will provide automation services and technologies for the three offshore platforms, as well as for an onshore observation facility that can support remote operations if needed.
“Emerson has proven technology and a successful track record of managing budget and schedule risk in North Sea automation projects,” said Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management. “This experience positions us to support Maersk Oil in both the initial construction phase and the long-term operational success of this project.”
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Emerson will provide a range of project and support services from its U.K. headquarters in Leicester to help ensure on-schedule project execution, including system design and engineering, configuration, testing, installation and commissioning. An operator training system will support both engineering and workforce training to help bring the production online safely and as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Emerson process control and safety systems will help ensure safe and efficient production, perform emergency shutdowns if required, and control fire and gas detection systems. Emerson will also provide measurement and control technologies designed to meet the challenges of this ultra-high pressure and high temperature application, as well as asset management and machinery health monitoring technologies to improve maintenance efficiency and help avoid unscheduled downtime.
