Process system integrators, DPS (Bristol) Ltd, reports first oil through the D-111 jackup rig stationed on the Morsa West field, offshore Angola.

Sonangol's West Morsa marginal field development project was awarded to Angola Drilling Company (ADC), having previously been rejected as uneconomic by other companies. However, working closely together both DPS and ADC have managed to supply a viable and economic shallow water solution in the form of a jackup which acts as a 20,000 bpd Central Processing Facility (CPF).

DPS had EPC responsibilities for all process and utility systems onboard the central processing facility, which included surveying the original rig to ensure that the required processing and power generation systems could be installed, the subsequent design and supply of the integrated system, as well as infield and export flow assurance studies.

Commenting on this news DPS Group Managing Director Neil Young said, "Achieving first oil on this project represents a tremendous achievement for the DPS team who have had to overcome a number of challenges to ensure this point was reached. It is testament to their perseverance and the relationship between DPS and ADC."

DPS Operations Director, Matt Banks, added, "This brownfield project has tested every aspect of the company's capability. The pipe laydown area on the cantilever deck could not be used for process equipment which greatly limited the space for installation. This lead to the design and 3D modeling of an innovative layout enabling the process facility to be shoe horned into an already tight footprint.

"Uncertainty in some elements of data also meant that the long lead procurement of gas turbines was delayed, so to keep schedule DPS ran several power generation options in parallel, so the topsides design would not be delayed.

"The DPS and ADC teams in the UK, the USA and Angola should be congratulated for their efforts."

Tags: DPS Ltd