Group experience in the building and operating of offshore oil and gas production facilities:
The Group has demonstrated its experience in the building and operating of offshore oil and gas production facilities. In 2001, MPC LTD as a joint venture company in which SAROST held a 50% interest, procured, built, installed and operated the IKDAM FPSO on the Isis oilfield offshore Tunisia under contract to COPAREX BV. Throughout this operation, MPC Ltd utilized the services of SAROST to provide logistic services, supply boat operation and materials handling.
MPC Background
The Company was incorporated in August 2000 as a joint venture between Brovig A.S.A from Norway and SAROST S.A. under the trading name of Mediterranean Production Company Limited (“MPC”). The company was formed for the purpose of implementing a contract to produce tendered by Coparex BV in respect of their Isis Field development, offshore Tunisia.
In late 2002, Brovig elected to exit the joint venture and sold its shares in MPC to SAROST S.A., whereupon MPC became a wholly owned subsidiary of the SAROST group of companies.
In April 2004, MPC underwent a change of name to become Maritime Petroservice Contractors Limited.
ISIS Project Description
The Isis project, offshore Tunisia, was a marginal field development undertaken by Coparex BV in 2002. Coparex contracted with MPC for the supply and operation of a FPSO on a build, own and operate basis. The scope of supply covered the acquisition and conversion of a tanker into an FPSO,
the installation of the FPSO and the provision of a mooring system and offtake system. Coparex retained responsibility for the drilling of the wells and provision of the wellheads.
Whilst Coparex supplied the umbilicals and flowlines, MPC retained responsibility for installation and subsequently the maintenance responsibility for these items passed to MPC on completion of installation. In essence therefore, the contractual interface reverted to the wellhead flange at start of production.
A unique feature of the Isis field development was the selection by Coparex of the TCMS mooring system, a single point bow mooring arrangement that allowed for controlled rotation of the FPSO around the mooring point.
At that time, there was only a limited history of continuous TCMS operation on producing fields. MPC had experience of the TCMS system through its parent Brovig who owned the patent rights to the system and had applied the system to early production tests in the UK. MPC therefore became involved in the developmental design of a TCMS system with the capability to operate continuously for a minimum of five years.
Contract Performance
ISIS Project Description The contract for the operation of the FPSO was formulated as a day-rate contract with fairly onerous conditions for non-performance, thus driving the contractor to consider up-time and maintenance regimes very carefully throughout the design
MPC elected to develop the FPSO from an aframax tanker which although having some twenty years old was in good condition requiring little in the way of steel replacement. The contracting strategy developed by MPC for the conversion of the tanker was to let two main subcontracts, one to a shipyard for the conversion engineering and dockyard work and the other to a recognised oilfield contractor for the design, supply and subsequent operation of the topsides. MPC undertook the design and procurement of the TCMS system itself, utilising a subsidiary company for the detailed engineering design.
Once in operation, MPC assumed overall management responsibility for the operation, providing logistics and shore base services in conjunction with other Group companies, managing the FPSO marine operations directly and subcontracting the production operation to the topsides supplier.
Success Results
The project was undertaken against a tight budgetary constraint of $39 million. In the event, the project was delivered two months late at a final cost of $45 million and became one of the lowest cost FPSO installations in that era. In mid 2003, the Isis field ownership changed and Lundin bought the concession from Coparex and took over the field development. Lundin decided to take the operation in-house and formally terminated the MPC operating contract.
Group experience in the building and operating of logistic’s bases:
SAROST SA as leader in maritime services in the local market, operates several logistics bases in the Country for its own use as well as a complete outsourcing of related services.
The long term Contract awarded by British Gas to SAROST, more than 2 years ago, for the provision of base and logistic services in support of their offshore drilling operations in the area, is the best example of a complete outsource of logistic services including the material and equipment stock management, the transit and the storage of any supply related to drilling operations.
Indeed the approach is a comprehensive project-based that offers clients the services and solutions that meet their full requirements. It allows SAROST management to assign the required skills, apply the best international management procedures and accurately organises tasks and steps as required and in time that address in the best manner all kind of offshore normal and contingency operations needs.
SAROST main focus is client satisfaction through HSEQ management system, demonstrating commitment to effective management, continuous improvement, and ongoing evaluation of performance.
SAROST Management Systems are currently monitored and certified by associations dealing with this kind of services such as: IMCA, Bureau Veritas, Germanisher Lloyd & ABS.
Within the BG contract SAROST use a logistics platform with spacious storage and hangars next to Sfax commercial port. Services include:
- Management And Administration Of Logistics
- Online Web Interface For Customer Reporting
- Warehousing, Handling And Storage
- Freight Forwarding And Chartering
- Customs Clearance
- Route Surveys &Transport Projects
- Manpower & Personnel Services
- Procurement & Maintenance
- Ship Chandler
- Offshore Supply Boat Operations
