The project
Zohr is a vast offshore natural gas field off the coast of Egypt
Saipem was responsible for the entire EPCI (engineering procurement construction and installation) development of the field.
Its project team developed all stages of the project: from the basic design to the installation of all the subsea pipelines to the onshore treatment plants at Port Said.
Key facts and figures
Project impact
Zohr is the largest natural gas find in Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
This field could make Egypt a regional energy hub; in addition to completely satisfying Egypt’s natural gas requirements for decades, the new field will be able to meet 65% of the country’s energy consumption.
Consequently, Egypt will be able to transform from being an importing country to becoming an exporter. The field may also make a fundamental contribution to the geopolitical and energy stability of the Mediterranean area.
The project will be able to increase its weight, with plans for building and upgrading infrastructures.
An extraordinary project
Time to market.
From a strictly engineering perspective, Zohr’s uniqueness undoubtedly lies in the completion times, which have always been especially rapid, starting from the first stage: the time window from the start of works to the initial production is unrivalled in the history of the oil & gas industry.
This may make Zohr a new benchmark for the modern oil & gas industry, which Saipem has been able to achieve with complete success.
Technological challenges
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Large valves and a new 26” connector concept.
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Seabed with a complex contour that required excavation from the shore at a depth of 1400 m.
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Custom post-lay work in deep water.
Assets and people
The largest deployment of vessels and equipment ever made by Saipem.
Saipem 10,000 drillship, CastorOne pipe-laying ship; Saipem 7000 semi-submersible crane vessel, Saipem FDS pipe-laying ship, Saipem FDS2 crane vessel, Castoro Sei pipe-laying crane vessel, Castoro 10 pipe-laying ship, Normand Maximus offshore support vessel, Far Samson offshore support vessel.
In addition to the offshore personnel on the various vessels, the Paris, Fano, Cyprus (Limassol, Larnaca), Egypt (Damietta, Port-Said, Abu Kir), and Arbatax offices were also involved.
Key takeaways
The project tested the flexibility, creativity and adaptability of Saipem’s people, prompting them to find effective, innovative solutions in a very short time.
The operating conditions favoured teamwork and created a very cooperative environment among the various departments, with activities being carried out in great harmony.
This environment also affected Saipem’s local staff and the Egyptian subcontractors who worked together on the project: an opportunity to enrich and develop their skill sets.
