Altra Energy has secured a contract said by industry sources to be worth around £100million to deliver front-end engineering design (FEED) for a new satellite production platform for Apache’s Forties field.
The multi-disciplined consultancy, which has its headquarters in Aberdeen, specialises in process, safety, maintenance reliability and structural engineering services to the global oil and gas industry.
It has joined forces with engineering, procurement installation and commissioning contractor SLP North Sea of Norwich to win the contract.
The Forties Alpha satellite development is a significant North Sea engineering project. Altra will undertake the front-end engineering of the topsides and bridge of the platform, with successful delivery and sanction from Apache leading to the next phase, which will include detailed engineering and commissioning work.
The contract will create around 30 new engineering jobs at Altra, giving it close to 100 staff.
The Apache and SLP project teams will be based in Altra’s city-centre Union Plaza premises for the duration of the project. The engineering will start this month, with platform completion and first oil targeted during 2012.
Altra managing director Daniel McGowan said: “This is a superb contract award for Altra and underlines our ability to take on major FEED projects. Working closely with SLP and Apache we will ensure that the engineering design is delivered to Apache’s requirements on time and within budget.
“This is also a significant project for the North Sea as it reinforces the available opportunities despite its maturity as an oil-producing province.
“Companies like Apache are demonstrating commitment to the UK continental shelf. Through new ways of working and new technology we are able to recover the remaining reserves profitably and safely.”
“We are delighted by Apache’s confidence in our joint ability to deliver, and proud to be able to work on one of the oldest and most prolific producing fields in the North Sea.”
Mark Richardson, from Apache, said: “The combined SLP and Altra capability offered us a different approach for this project. Both companies have a clear capability to deliver this type of work and are already demonstrating energy and drive in moving forward with the FEED.”
Altra announced recently its repositioning to become a facilities support and design business with a focus on delivering engineering through three service areas – project work, minor modifications and consultancy.