Artificial islands for UAE
Dredging International and affiliate MEDCO have been awarded a contract for the dredging and civil engineering works required to build two artificial ‘energy islands’ for the Satah al-Razboot (SARB) offshore oilfield.
The islands will be used as alternatives to drilling platforms and will be located 120km off the northwest coast of Abu Dhabi City. A contract to build them was signed on 7 February during the official mission of the Flemish Minister-President Kris Peeters to Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
The contract was awarded by Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), which is part of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Work scheduled to start in the middle of this month. The contract involves engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and will start with approximately five months of engineering, preparation and logistics activities.
The project is due to be completed in 110 weeks, and requires reclamation of two 500m by 500m artificial islands and concrete armour units and armour rock. The work scope includes design and model testing, dredging and reclamation, compaction of the reclaimed site, construction of the shore protection structures, construction of harbours from concrete block walls and installation of navigational aids.
The project will require the deployment of trailing suction hopper dredgers, offloading and positioning pontoons, crane pontoons, transport barges and heavy earth moving equipment. A work force of over 500 people will be required.
By David Foxwell
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