Petrofac bags $17 million job with Ithaca Energy

Petrofac, an international service provider to the energy industry, has been awarded a two-and-a-half-year brownfield project with Ithaca Energy, valued in the region of $17 million.

Selected through competitive tender to deliver stage two of Ithaca Energy’s Captain Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) project in the UK’s central North Sea, Petrofac will be responsible for fabricating, constructing and commissioning the topsides development, bringing to life Ithaca’s strategy to maximise economic recovery.

The award builds on Petrofac’s existing integrated services contract with the operator and the recent successful delivery of the Vorlich and FPF1 Oil Export projects.

Petrofac noted that, securing more than 40 roles, on and offshore, as well as specialist fabrication expertise, the contract supports job security across the UK’s supply chain.

Ithaca sanctioned the Captain EOR Stage 2 project in April 2021 after receiving Field Development Plan Addendum consent from the UK’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA). The EOR Stage 2 is the next phase of development at the Captain field and is building on the success of EOR Stage 1.

The project is designed to significantly increase hydrocarbon recovery by injecting polymerised water into the reservoir through additional subsea wells, subsea infrastructure, and new topsides facilities.

The Captain field was discovered in 1977, in Block 13/22a located on the edge of the outer Moray Firth. The billion-barrel field achieved its first production in March 1997 – over 20 years ago – thanks to technology developments in horizontal drilling and down-hole pump technology.

Commenting, Petrofac Chief Operating Officer Nick Shorten, said: “This award is an excellent example of our long-standing collaboration with Ithaca Energy. As incumbent Integrated Services Contractor, Petrofac is in a unique position to maximise productivity across both the project and ongoing operations on Captain. In mature basins, the incremental efficiencies and reduction of interfaces achieved through integrated delivery, drive huge value as our clients seek to extend field life”.

Petrofac has supported Ithaca Energy’s FPF1 asset since 2011, and its Alba, Captain, and Erskine assets since 2014.

In 2020, it was awarded a new five-year integrated services contract for operations, maintenance, engineering, construction, and onshore and offshore technical support across Ithaca’s entire North Sea-operated asset base.