The jacket for Neptun Deep project in the Romanian Black Sea departs from Sardinian shipyard
The jacket destined to Neptun Deep Gas Development project in Romania has sailed away from Saipem’s shipyard in Arbatax, Sardinia, following the load-out operations completed recently.
Neptun Deep is the largest offshore natural gas project currently under development in the European Union, developed jointly by OMV Petrom (operator) and Romgaz, with total investments estimated at up to 4 billion euro.
The foundation weighs approximately 7,500 tons, one of the largest structures ever built at the shipyard. Standing approximately 135 meters tall and with a base measuring approximately 50 by 50 meters, it was built horizontally and will be transported in the same position. Once arrived in the Black Sea, it will be lifted and placed vertically by the Saipem 7000 crane vessel, then installed on the seabed and anchored using eight 2.5-meter diameter steel piles.
The Neptun Deep project, for which the structure is intended, was awarded to Saipem in August 2023 and entails the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of a gas production platform, consisting of the jacket fabricated in Arbatax, Sardinia, upon which the topside — the upper part of the platform — will be installed, coming from Saipem’s shipyard in Karimun, Indonesia.
The project also includes subsea works provided by Saipem for the Domino field, located at a water depth of approximately 1,000 meters, and the Pelican field, at approximately 125 meters water depth, as well as the laying of a 30-inch gas pipeline approximately 160 km long and an associated fiber-optic cable from the offshore platform to the Romanian coast, including microtunneling for shore landing.
This initiative contributes to the diversification of the European Union's energy supply sources and enhances Saipem's role as an international operator in the offshore energy infrastructure sector. The project also confirms the high level of professionalism, technical expertise, and operational capabilities present in the area, enabling it to compete in the most technologically advanced markets.