Client challenge
Clair Ridge is the second development phase of the Clair field. With an estimated eight billion barrels of oil, this is the largest undeveloped hydrocarbon resource on the UK Continental Shelf. The field is located 75km west of the Shetland Islands, at a water depth of 150m.
BP and partners brought the field on stream in 2005, with its first fixed offshore facility. This asset targeted the 300 million barrels of recoverable reserves believed to be held in the first phase area. To the north of this facility is Clair Ridge, with potentially 640 million further barrels. Here, BP wanted to deploy its enhanced oil recovery technology LoSal® for the first time. Using a water-injection method, our client expected to deliver an additional 40 million barrels of oil. BP asked us to continue with our technical support on compliance matters.
How we helped
We have supported BP and the operator’s contractors and suppliers throughout every stage of the Clair Ridge project.
Our expert design engineers have appraised Clair Ridge’s design, as well as ensuring the asset meets the requirements of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). Globally, through our network of offices, we have overseen the manufacture of all safety critical equipment, making sure each component meets the highest quality standards.
We also placed a dedicated team at the installation’s construction site in Korea to offer ongoing, valuable advice to BP and contractor, HHI. Our support will be extended to the offshore phase of the project. Our world-renowned technical specialists will continue to support BP so that the operator can meet the scope set out by us, as the Independent Verification Body (IVB), and the EU, in the form of the PED.
Role summary
As the project’s Independent Verification Body, we provided:
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design, procurement, construction, installation, hook up, test and commissioning services to the Clair Ridge platforms and subsea pipelines
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design, procurement, construction, hook up and commissioning services for modifications to the Clair Phase I platform.
As the Notified Body (NoBo), we also delivered Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) services to the Clair Ridge installation.
IVB: Under the UK Offshore Safety Case Regulations (OSCR) 2005.
NoBo: Under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC.
