31-07-08 In a $ 1 bn deal, BP contracted Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) to produce the URF-1 risers and production flowlines for its first deepwater oil development on Block 31 off Angola.
BP will bring on the Plutao, Saturno, Venus, and Marte fields on stream by 2011, which are expected to peak at 150,000 bpd in 2012.

HMC has begun the pre-sanction engineering work and will start its offshore installation in mid-2010 using the deepwater construction vessel "Balder." The welding technology will be supported by Pipeline Technique Ltd. (PTL), HMC's recently acquired welding specialist in Scotland.
This contract is the largest in HMC's history and covers engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and the testing of pipe-in-pipe production flow lines, service flow lines as well as vertical riser systems. The award is the first of possibly four similar projects off Angola.

HMC will move its deepwater construction vessel to West Africa and expects to develop other projects in this region. The company will establish local offices, an Angolan Marine Transport Co., and an integrated marine construction support base and multi-joint yard to contribute to sustainable Angolan development.
The majority of the onshore fabrication work will be performed by Angolan yards, said Steve Preston, an HMC executive vice-president.