RDS Secures ‘Sea Lion’ FEED Contract

RDS has been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract by AMEC for Premier Oil’s Sea Lion development in the North Falklands Basin. RDS is the rig design and engineering subsidiary of international drilling and engineering contractor, KCA Deutag.

The FEED work is part of AMEC’s overall FEED contract for the Sea Lion development and follows a concept study which was executed by an RDS team in Houston. The contract, which is expected to be carried out over the next 12 months, will see RDS deliver the design of drilling rig modules for a Tension Leg Platform (TLP), 200km north of the Falkland Islands.

The overall project is being delivered from AMEC’s London design office, supported by KCA Deutag in London and Houston Offshore Engineering in Houston.

Simon Drew, President of RDS, said: “The Sea Lion field will be the first major development of oil and gas reserves in the Falklands. Due to its remote location, we need to ensure that we deliver a rig that is reliable, efficient and can be easily maintained and supported to deliver safe, effective operations.”

The company has an established pedigree in delivering rig engineering at every stage of design, construction and modification for projects across the world.

“RDS and KCA Deutag have a lot of experience in designing and operating rigs in remote locations and this is a great opportunity to put that experience to good use in a new region. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Premier Oil and AMEC as we move the Sea Lion development forward,” Simon added.

The TLP will contain drilling, topsides wells, processing facilities, utilities and quarters. The design life of the production facilities is estimated at around 25 years.