Shell and Technip-MMHE Joint Venture (TMJV) have concluded the onshore fabrication and commissioning of the Malikai deep-water platform.

According to Shell, this milestone marks the sail away of Malaysia’s first Tension Leg Platform (TLP) to the site 100km offshore Sabah. The TLP will be making a 1,400km journey from Pasir Gudang to arrive at the Malikai field, where it will be installed in water depths of 500m.

While it is a deep-water project, after the installation has been concluded, Malikai will produce via the Kebabangan (KBB) shallow water platform, located 50km away. The TLP is designed to partially process the gross production before evacuation to KBB, where it will be further processed before being sent onshore to the Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal for storage and offloading to tankers.

In April 2016, Malikai TLP concluded its load out, when the 27,500-tonne platform was moved onto a heavy transport vessel. The platform was then brought to a near-shore location to allow the structure to float on its own. Once the platform was floated off of the vessel, further technical evaluations were conducted. The entire process took 10 days. The TLP was then towed back to the construction yard and berthed quayside at the fabrication yard for remaining construction and commissioning activities.

“Deep water is a growth priority for Shell, and our Malikai project supports the country’s aspiration to be a hub for deep-water development in the region. It also allows for the transfer of knowledge, technology and capability to Malaysian contractors and service partners. We are proud of the milestones we have safely achieved to date and are confident of the steady progress we are making,” said Simon Ong, Managing Director, Shell Global Solutions Malaysia, Projects & Technology.

“The sail away marks a historic chapter for the Malaysian oil and gas industry – a proud moment, given the design, engineering, fabrication and onshore commissioning are done in-country. The collaboration between Shell, joint venture partners, TMJV and contractors and service companies has been key in this success. So is the support given by PETRONAS,” remarked Momas Modon, Malikai Project Manager.

“MMHE is proud to have been the fabrication partner and Malaysian contractor to Shell and Technip for Malikai. The TLP project has helped develop local deep-water resources, infrastructure and expertise towards securing Malaysia’s position as a regional deep-water hub and centre of excellence,” said Wan Mashitah Wan Abdullah Sani, Acting CEO, MMHE.

Arnaud Pieton, President Asia Pacific, Technip, said, “The sail away marks a salient move forward for both Malaysia and Technip in TLP technology and capability in the region. The successful delivery of the project has not only affirmed Shell’s trust in Technip and our partners but also proves our capability in delivering such complex project in this region. The experience gained will better position us to deliver, in future, projects of similar complexity or more, TLP included, in Asia Pacific.”

Malikai is Shell’s second deep-water project in Malaysia, following the successful start-up of Gumusut-Kakap last year. Malikai is expected to have a production at peak of 60,000 barrels per day.

The Malikai project is a joint venture between Shell (35%, operator), ConocoPhillips Sabah (35%), and PETRONAS Carigali (30%).