Aramco completes the fabrication of one of its largest offshore platforms in China

Nader A. Arfaj, Aramco China Managing Director, and Abdulaziz Dulaijan, Director of Marjan Increment Projects Department, conferred awards to the project team.

Nader A. Arfaj, Aramco China Managing Director, and Abdulaziz Dulaijan, Director of Marjan Increment Projects Department, heading for the ceremony, accompanied by Zhang Haitao, VP of COOEC.

Yahya A. Abushal, Senior Vice President of Upstream & Downstream Project Management (U&DPM) broadcasted an appreciation speech.

Abdulaziz Dulaijan, Director of Marjan Increment Project Department, delivered a keynote speech sharing the project outlook and expressing appreciation for the COOEC’s commitment.

On August 12, 2024, Marjan Package 1 Tie-in platform load out & sail away ceremony was held in Qingdao, with participation of Aramco China Managing Director Nader A. Arfaj and Marjan Increment Projects Department Director Abdulaziz Dulaijan, Senior Project Manager Hamad Al Shaiban.

The tie-in platform will be one of six platforms constituting the Marjan GOSP-4 facility.

The completion of Aramco’s Marjan GOSP-4 Tie-in Platform is an unprecedent accomplishment on its own, let alone having been the first ever Aramco platform to complete its fabrication in China. The tie-in platform is an 8-legged central connection platform, weighing 21,000 tons (topside weight: 17,000 tons; temporary support: 4,000 tons), equivalent to the total weight of two (2) Eiffel tower, and the height of 24 floors (70m). In fact, the overall spaces for all platform’s deck levels are equivalent to 15 basketball courts.

The tie-in platform to be shipped: a bird’s eye view

In addition to being the first offshore mega project executed in China, the completion of this platform in China is significant also by tiding over numerous challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, world logistics interruption, to name just a few.

During the ceremony, Upstream and Downstream Project Management (U&DPM) Senior Vice President, Yahya A. Abushal, broadcasted an appreciation speech to congratulate the team on the successful completion of Tie-in Platform and achieving this major milestone for Marjan increment program. He noted, “What we are celebrating today is Aramco's first Mega offshore platform fabricated in China and we hope to build on this relationship to help both countries grow. As a matter of fact, all of our achievements would have been impossible without the outstanding commitment of our partners, contractors and suppliers. It has made Aramco’s business more cost efficient, more resilient and more reliable.”

Commenting on the project, Nader A. Arfaj, Aramco China Managing Director said, “China is very unique for Aramco and our role here goes beyond investment. We aspire to be a key partner in China's economic development journey, leveraging new opportunities on the horizon. Collaboration with Chinese partners also provides win-win opportunities for multinational corporations like Aramco.”

Abdulaziz Dulaijan, Director of Marjan Increment Projects Department, spoke highly of COOEC’s performance in his remark, “GOSP-4 will be the biggest offshore facility ever built by Saudi Aramco with an objective to increase the production of Marjan field, which will support the kingdom to meet the rising global demand of energy. Therefore, the deployment of the most advanced technologies is definite to enhance the execution of this state-of-the-art complex project.”

“The program is intended to enhance the Company’s oil and gas production through executing several packages and contracts distributed over several countries worldwide, some of which are offshore, and others are onshore. For such a unique program, the Company has carefully selected world class contractors, which include the likes of COOEC and McDermott. Aramco, count on the professional work of this consortium to deliver projects on schedule, to the highest quality standards, and most importantly, deliver projects safely with no incidents. ”

The platform, which is on its way to Saudi Arabia, is one of six platforms constituting the Marjan GOSP-4 facility. This facility, other than being the first of its kind to be installed by Aramco for over 30 years, will enable the increase of the field’s daily production capacity, further bolstering Saudi Arabia’s position as the largest energy exporter in the world.