KCA DEUTAG engineering division, RDS, the world's leading specialist designer of drilling facilities, has been awarded the contract for the Chirag Oil Project (COP) 'Execute' phase by the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC), operated by BP.

Following project sanction, RDS will perform the COP 'Execute' phase including detail design, follow-on engineering and construction & commissioning support. The project is scheduled to run until early 2013.

An integrated RDS project team of 53 engineers and designers based in Leatherhead, Surrey is currently up-manning and is expected to peak at 70.

Hamish Ritchie, RDS General Manager said: 'I am delighted by the award of this new COP contract which reinforces RDS' market position as a world-class drilling facilities design contractor. We look forward to building upon our established relationship with AIOC and BP, key RDS clients in the Caspian, North Sea and internationally.'

The COP development concept is an offshore fixed installation located in the Chirag - Deep Water Gunashli (DWG) area of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field, in a water depth of approximately 170m. The installation shall comprise a single production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform. It will be the 6th production platform on the ACG oil field.

Tags: KCA DEUTAG