A steel cutting, as opposed to a ribbon cutting, was completed this morning at Metal World’s facility on Torbay Road in St. John’s, recognizing the increasing opportunities for local companies in construction of the Hebron topsides.
The steel cutting for the $14-billion oil development was attended by Premier Kathy Dunderdale, Hebron project lead Geoff Parker and president of the Cahill Group of Companies, Fred Cahill.
The living quarters module, a large piece of the Hebron topsides, is being built by NEAL — a partnership of North Eastern Constructors Limited, a division of G.J. Cahill, and Norwegian contractor Apply Leirvik. The fabrication work is being completed at Nalcor’s Bull Arm Fabrication Site, while Metal World is a sub-contractor on the module.
As of the end of 2012, just over 2,300 people were employed on the Hebron project.
In addition to the living quarters, the topsides will also require a derrick equipment set (DES), drilling support module (DSM) and personnel living quarters, as well as flare boom, lifeboat stations and helideck.
As The Telegram has previously reported, the derrick equipment set (DES) module has been awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea.
The DES was the module that led to a dust up between the oil companies building Hebron and the provincial government. The provincial government wanted the module built in-province, but ultimately agreed to let the project go outside, in exchange for $150 million.
In addition to the DES, Hyundai Heavy Industries has been contracted to build the utilities process module.
More information on opportunities for local suppliers will be made available in information sessions later this week. The first is set for St. John’s on Tuesday, March 19, the second for Clarenville on March 20 and the last for Corner Brook on March 22.
For anyone interested in more information on the sessions, they can contact the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association (NOIA) at 758-6610 or noia@noia.ca.
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Meanwhile, at the steel cutting, the Premier was also asked about recent poll results released today by Corporate Research Associates. More on that to come at thetelegram.com and in Tuesday’s print and digital editions.
afitzpatrick@thetelegram.com
