A Norwich-based offshore engineering company has installed the first shallow water offshore platform for an oil field near Trinidad.
Aquaterra Energy has announced the completion of a 10-month project to install one of its Sea Swift platforms off the coast of the Caribbean island.
Located in the Iguana field in the Gulf of Paria, the platform was installed from a jack-up rig in 27m-deep water. Aquaterra says it can accommodate up to four wells and includes local power generation and a control system.
It was erected for Trinidad and Tobago energy firm DeNovo and was designed and installed by Chet Morrison Contractors, who also built the field's pipeline to shore.
The Sea Swift conductor supported platform has already been installed in locations in West Africa, Egypt and the Far East.
Stewart Maxwell, technical director of Aquaterra Energy, said: 'The Sea Swift platform is an ideal solution for shallow water field developments, such as Iguana.
'As the price of fabricated steel has fallen, it means the straight cost differential between a conventional jacket and a Sea Swift is also falling.'
He added: 'This first for the upstream industry in Trinidad and Tobago opens up further opportunities for the country, which has several stranded reserves full of development potential.'
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