Ramboll has been awarded an extension contract for the Upper Zakum Phase II project off the coast of Abu Dhabi. Ramboll was also the consultant on the first phase of this high-tech project and the new contract is a result of a successful cooperation with the operator Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) in Abu Dhabi.

"The Phase II contract consolidates our strong cooperation with ZADCO who have been very satisfied with our services in Phase I of the project. But it also strengthens our future market expansion opportunities in the region significantly," Branch Manager Jesper William Thomsen said.

Artificial islands as centres for oil and drilling The Zakum field stretches over some 1,200 square kilometers making it one of the largest oil fields in the world with a very long expected operating life. In order to increase oil production, an expansion study is undertaken by ZADCO to install a number of artificial islands to be used as centers for drilling and oil production in the Zakum Field in the future.

Ramboll studies effects on existing facilities In 2009 Ramboll was appointed as consultant to study the effects of introducing the artificial islands and burrow areas in the existing oil field on existing jackets, pipelines, cables and environment, wave and current conditions, and how the changes in hydrodynamic loads impacts the structural integrity of the existing platforms.

In Phase II of the project the scope is to based on new information establish new met-ocean data for all the platforms and pipelines that are part of the Zakum field.

In addition, a detailed structural analysis of eight selected platforms including risers experiencing a significant increase in hydrodynamic loads and a study of the on-bottom stability are also included in the contract.

Tags: Ramboll Oil & Gas