Aberdeen-based Consafe Engineering Services said yesterday it had landed a contract worth more than £15million which is leading to the creation of 20 jobs.
The firm has won a deal with Talisman Energy (UK) to design and build a new accommodation module for the Auk platform in the North Sea.
The unit, designed to accommodate 120 people, will replace the existing living quarters on the platform, which has been in production since 1975.
The new accommodation forms part of an upgrade being undertaken by Talisman to increase drilling capability and extend field life.
The company acquired Auk in December 2006.
The platform, originally constructed for Shell, is now being redeveloped extensively to extend the productive life of one of the most mature fields in the North Sea.
The living quarters will be designed in Aberdeen and built at Consafe’s East Tullos base in large modular sections; the heaviest weighing more than 50 tonnes.
The giant “jigsaw” will then be assembled at a harbour quayside into a six-storey steel building weighing 1,300 tonnes before being loaded on to a barge for delivery to the platform.
It will be installed in 2012 by one of the largest cranes in the world.
David Reith, project manager for Consafe, said: “By the time the new module arrives offshore and is lifted into place, it will be ready to be connected up, switched on and occupied.”
Each bedroom will feature its own shower room, plus two single beds with built-in TVs.
The construction project is already under way, with Consafe increasing its workforce from 100 to 120.
Mr Reith said: “One of the challenges we have worked through with Talisman has been the need to limit the overall weight, whilst still delivering all the objectives of the project.”
The new living quarters are designed to provide the safest facility possible for offshore workers.
Consafe’ sales and marketing manager David Moore said: “This is a very important project for Consafe and has been some three years in its conception. It’s great to see it all coming together.”