Offshore Solutions expand OAS operations in Qatar

The latest addition is to support Shell Qatar's Wells Reservoir Management Campaign and will see an OAS unit deployed on the Halul 50 multi purpose offshore vessel for a period of seven months with a possible option to extend.

The VO comes on the back of a three-year agreement with Shell Qatar to service Pearl 1 and 2 platforms of the Pearl GTL project, the world's largest gas-to-liquids plant, which is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Shell.

Based on their positive experience to date of using an OAS equipped vessel, Shell Qatar have exercised their 2 x 1 year options, extending the contract duration to the end of 2015.

During this agreement, OSBV has already achieved more than 62,840 safe personnel transfers mounted on board the Bourbon Gulf Star and has been connected for more than 5,000 hours since operations began, with 100% availability for the past 12 months.

OSBV has been operating in Qatar since 2010, and as a result of excellent safety and operational efficiency in a challenging environment, the company has seen growing demand for the OAS. In line with increased enquiries, OSBV will have an additional unit available in June 2013. The company also underlined its commitment to the region by registering a branch office in Qatar.

Lindsay Young, managing director of OSBV, said, "We continue to build on our impressive track record in Qatar, with three units now present in the region."

"We have demonstrated outstanding operational efficiency throughout our projects and as an outcome of this, we are in serious discussions with other operators in Qatar and see further potential growth in the region during 2013," she added.

"An OAS equipped vessel provides safe and cost effective offshore accommodation that during the winter months in Qatar, offers significantly greater access to offshore installations than by crew vessels or helicopters. The additional offshore man-hours made available by marine access can have a positive impact on production and radically reduce construction and maintenance costs," she concluded.

Marcel Goedhart, Engineering Services Manager added, "Due to the good performance and high level of safety achieved over the last two years of utilising the first OAS unit, this made the decision very easy to go for a second (free-standing) unit."