BOURBON & Oceaneering: successful partnership

Oceaneering and BOURBON have been collaborating since February 2012. They will carry on their partnership for another 2 years from 2015 by extending the three-year contract initially signed up with the Bourbon Oceanteam 101.

Contracted by Sonasurf, the vessel will operate in Angola for BP on blocks 18 and 31, until February 2017. Jointly owned with Oceanteam Shipping, she worked from 2007 directly for BP on a 5-year period. She will consequently have achieved 10 years of service for the British oil company when the contract ends.

With its 122 m in length and 27 m in width, this diesel-electric propulsion MPSV DP2 has a deck area of 2,100 m² and two swell-compensation cranes of 150 t and 70 t. It can also accommodate approximately 120 passengers on board.

Armed with this advanced equipment, the vessel, shipmanaged by Bourbon Offshore Norway, handles the inspection, maintenance and repair of the site's oil infrastructure and supports its submarine operations, relying on its 2 Oceaneering Work ROVs that can dive to a depth of 3000 m. Installing wellheads, jumpers and umbilicals... Right from the start of this contract, the Bourbon Oceanteam 101 has been successfully and safely carrying out the most complex missions. "Operations in this area are made difficult by the size and the particular shape of the items that must be handled", maintains Patrick Belenfant, Senior VP Business Management Subsea. "The Bourbon Oceanteam 101 is the largest vessel chartered by BP in this oil field and the best suited to meeting customer requirements."

This contract extension is not only the result of many successful operations but it is also due to the relationship of trust built between the two companies. "We appreciate high quality of service provided by BOURBON in Angola", commented Mike Ellis, Manager Major Projects Oceaneering. "The Bourbon Oceanteam 101 and her operations and support staff are an integral part of the Life of Field Services we provide to BP in Blocks 18 and 31. We look forward to continuing to work together in the coming years."

Historically present in West Africa where more than half of BOURBON's fleet is presently operating, this long-term partnership has also helped consolidate activity in this area, and also implies the Bourbon Evolution 803 under contract on the same oil field until January 2015.