Saipem completes a key milestone for offshore Neptun Deep project in Romania
Saipem 7000 successfully completes the installation of the production platform for the largest offshore natural gas project currently under development in the European Union
Saipem has successfully completed the offshore installation campaign for the production platform of the Neptun Deep Gas Development project in Romanian waters of the Black Sea, achieving a major milestone in the development of the largest offshore natural gas project currently under way in the European Union.
Jointly developed by OMV Petrom (operator) and Romgaz, Neptun Deep will contribute to strengthening Europe’s energy security and diversifying its energy supply sources through the development of natural gas resources in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea.
The contract awarded to Saipem in 2023 includes the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of a gas production platform, the subsea works for the Domino and Pelican fields, located in approximately 1,000 and 125 mt of water depth respectively, and the laying of a 160-kilometre-long 30-inch offshore gas pipeline, together with a fibre-optic cable, connecting the platform to the Romanian coast.
The installation campaign was carried out by Saipem 7000, one of the world’s largest crane vessels. Operations included the installation of the jacket, a structure approximately 135 mt high and weighing more than 7,500 tonnes, built at Saipem Offshore Construction’s yard in Arbatax, Sardinia. It is one of the largest structures ever fabricated at the site and represents a tangible example of Italian industrial and engineering excellence applied to the delivery of strategic energy infrastructure for Europe.
After being transported to the Black Sea, the jacket was lifted, upended, positioned and secured to the seabed using eight steel piles. The operation was completed with the installation of the approximately 9,000-tonne platform topside, which is also one of the largest modules ever fabricated at Saipem’s Karimun yard in Indonesia. Once operated, the platform – which is fully automated and controlled remotely – will feed the processed gas into the 160 km of offshore pipeline laid by vessels from Saipem’s fleet, the Castorone for deep-water installation, and the Castoro 10 fleet for near-shore installation.
The completion of the offshore platform installation campaign marks a significant step towards first production from the Neptun Deep project and further confirms Saipem’s ability to deliver complex offshore energy infrastructure projects by combining engineering expertise, execution capabilities and one of the most advanced fleets in the industry. The project also highlights the contribution of Italian industry and engineering to the development of strategic energy infrastructure for Europe, supporting the continent’s energy security and diversification of supply sources.