Qatar ISND5-2 Project Officially Commences Elevating Chinas Offshore Engineering Capabilities

Qatar ISND5-2 Project Officially Commences Elevating Chinas Offshore Engineering Capabilities

On June 26, 2024, the Qatar ISND5-2 project, undertaken by China National Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (CNOOC Engineering), officially broke ground at the Qingdao International High-End Equipment Manufacturing Base. This project is the most complex and diverse international offshore oil and gas field turnkey project contracted by a Chinese company, marking a new height in China’s technological maturity and execution capacity in the field of offshore engineering.

Project Background and Scale

The Qatar ISND5-2 project is invested and developed by QatarEnergy, located approximately 80 kilometers east of the Qatari peninsula in the Arabian Gulf, with a maximum water depth of about 35 meters. The project scope includes:

• The construction of three wellhead platforms, each weighing approximately 1,300 tons.

• The laying of 9 subsea pipelines (submarine pipelines).

• The installation of 5 umbilical cables.

• The construction of 4 subsea skid blocks.

• The modification of existing operational platform facilities.

The overall project duration is 43 months, with a contract value of approximately 22.16 billion Qatari riyals (around 4.437 billion RMB). The project’s complexity and the diversity of its scope set a new record for China’s international offshore oil and gas field turnkey projects.

Construction Unit

China National Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (CNOOC Engineering) is the only large-scale general contractor in China specializing in offshore oil and gas development engineering design, onshore manufacturing, offshore installation, commissioning, maintenance, and LNG engineering. It is also one of the largest and most powerful offshore oil and gas engineering EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation) contractors in the Asia-Pacific region. With large offshore engineering manufacturing bases in Tianjin Binhai New Area, Qingdao in Shandong, and Zhuhai in Guangdong, CNOOC Engineering covers a total area of nearly 4.1 million square meters.

Technical Challenges and Solutions

The project’s construction environment posed several technical challenges, particularly regarding the intersection of subsea pipelines and umbilical cables. The seabed pipeline area is extremely congested, with as many as 247 intersections of umbilical cables, making pipeline routing design highly challenging. Subsea pipelines are crucial for transporting oil and gas from offshore wells to onshore facilities. To ensure construction quality, the conductor frame splash zone was clad with Monel alloy plates, while the minimum wall thickness of the conductors was only 12.5 mm, increasing the risk of welding deformation and further complicating construction and quality control.

The project team at CNOOC Engineering integrated its superior resources, closely analyzing technical requirements and contract terms, identifying key challenges, and conducting advanced management and risk assessment. A detailed project plan and quality management strategy were formulated. The team adopted refined and standardized control measures, enhancing organizational management to ensure the project progressed with high standards and quality. After project completion, explosion-proof overhead cranes will be regularly used to inspect and maintain equipment.

Deepening the Middle Eastern Market, Reaching New Heights in International Cooperation

The Qatar ISND5-2 project is another significant oil and gas field construction project successfully contracted by CNOOC Engineering, following the Qatar NFA project and the NFPS COMP2 project. In recent years, CNOOC Engineering has been continuously deepening its presence in the Middle Eastern market, establishing stable partnerships with major regional oil giants such as Saudi Aramco and Qatar Petroleum, and gaining high recognition in international markets.

CNOOC Engineering has not only made breakthroughs in technology but also continually improved its management and execution capabilities. With the commencement of the Qatar ISND5-2 project, CNOOC Engineering’s competitiveness and influence in the global offshore oil and gas engineering turnkey market will be further enhanced, helping China secure a greater voice and market share in global offshore engineering projects.

Looking to the Future: Promoting "Belt and Road" International Cooperation

Under the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative, CNOOC Engineering will continue to accelerate international cooperation, particularly in the Middle East, leveraging overseas projects as "outposts" to further enhance its international turnkey capabilities. By introducing domestic standardized design experience, digital transformation achievements, and complete industrial chain advantages, CNOOC Engineering is committed to providing high-quality, efficient, and professional energy development solutions to countries and regions along the "Belt and Road."

With the smooth progress of the Qatar ISND5-2 project, Chinese companies will continue to showcase their outstanding capabilities in the global offshore oil and gas engineering field, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to global sustainable energy development.