UTEC supports Saipem’s pipelay operations at Ichthys project

UTEC Survey (Australia) Pty Ltd has been awarded the largest pipelay support survey and positioning contract in Australia, the company has announced.

The contract was awarded to UTEC by Saipem and involves the provision of offshore survey and positioning services during the pre-lay, lay and post-lay installation of a 42-inch-diameter, 889 kilometre long pipeline which will connect the Ichthys LNG Project’s offshore central processing facility situated some 200km off the coast of Western Australia with its onshore gas processing plant near Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.

To be installed in water depths up to 275 metres, the pipeline is the longest subsea gas pipeline in the Southern hemisphere and the fifth longest in the world.

Offshore activity will start in May 2014 and it will see UTEC providing survey and positioning services on a range of Saipem-owned and chartered vessels. Pre-lay survey works will be carried out from the Go Explorer, which will also provide touch-down monitoring support to the pipelay barges. The Semac-1 will start pipelay at the Darwin end and lay approximately 150km of the 42-inch pipe before Saipem’s fourth generation pipelay vessel Castorone takes over to complete the pipelay out to the Ichthys field. Added to its current backlog of work this award confirms UTEC as a market leader in the Australian survey sector.

Simon Hird, UTEC Australia General Manager said: “When I joined UTEC just over a year ago it was clear that the foundations had been laid for the company to step up in Australia, to begin to win key target projects and to bring UTEC’s global brand to prominence in this country. The Ichthys Project contract was one of those key targets and I am immensely proud of our team who have demonstrated to Saipem that we are the right company to undertake this prestigious contract.”

UTEC Asia Pacific Regional Sales Manager Noel Cowley also commented:“Saipem and UTEC already have a strong relationship in the APAC region having undertaken a number of projects including the PNG LNG pipelay contract. This latest award further builds this trust between the two companies.”

UTEC CEO Martin O’Carroll added: “UTEC is a truly global survey provider supporting the world’s most advanced marine contractors from strategically placed operational bases around the world including our web based asset management web portal iSite™. Our highly skilled teams utilize refined processes coupled with appropriate equipment and solutions to deliver the highest quality service. This award confirms our position in the marketplace.”

UTEC provides a wide range of survey services including offshore positioning and construction support, metocean, geophysical and AUV surveys, geotechnical sampling and consulting services to the oil, gas and energy industries. With a focus on people, performance, excellence and ethics, the company also offers dimensional control surveys, laser scanning, 3D modeling and the iSITE™ asset management software. UTEC has offices located around the world including: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.