Chowgule builds 2 platforms for SunPetro
Goa-based Chowgule Group is constructing two wellhead platforms for SunPetro at its CB/OSDSF/GULFA/2021 block in the Gulf of Khambat.
Chowgule's Energy and EPC business division won the SunPetro assignment about two months ago, its first independent platform EPC project. A source tells us Chowgule is expected to complete construction by June 2024 before transporting and installing the platforms on location.
"To do this, they (Chowgule) will have to hire a barge, most likely from the Middle East," he says. "Transportation and installation will have to await the fair-weather window in the western offshore, from October (2024) to mid-May (2025)."
One four-legged platform with six slots will be installed in water depths of about 25 metres, while the second with nine slots will be closer to shore in shallow waters of about four metres. "At the second platform location, the water depths are much less, exposing the seabed during low tide," we hear.
"So the platform will not be a typical jacket structure; SunPetro and Chowgule are working on a solution to handle this." Each platform will have a helicopter landing deck, and the platform further out to sea might also have living quarters.
Oil and gas from the wells connected to the platforms will be transported through an eight-inch, 18-inch diameter pipeline over 35-km to an onland central processing facility for onward sale. SunPetro has hired Chowgule to engineer, design, construct, transport and install the platforms and pipelines.
"SunPetro is following a cost-plus-fee system," we hear. "They buy the steel and other materials and hand them to Chowgule; usually, the EPC contractor buys steel and other materials, but SunPetro is trying to cut costs."
SunPetro, operator with 100%, won the 72.96-sq km DSF-3 block CB/OSDSF/GULFA/2021 on September 1 (2022), signed the RSC on September 9 (2022) and received a 20-year PML the same day. In its February 13 (2023) environment clearance application, SunPetro outlined an estimated 10-year Rs372.37cr ($45m) 51-well development campaign to produce an estimated 20,000 b/d and 200,000 cm/d.