EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Annapolis Production System Study
Marathon Canada Limited
Reference: MCL 0259, NS 02077
BIDS Category: 0906, 9120
Issue date: Jan 15, 2002
Closing Date: Jan 28, 2002
Use this reference for all correspondence: MCL 0259, NS 02077
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This Expression of Interest (EOI) document outlines the Scope of Work to be performed by external contractors with respect to the execution of Seabed Survey offshore Nova Scotia. The purpose of this Scope of Work is to provide potential bidders with the
necessary information to decide if they have an interest and are qualified in bidding for the contract.
In the event a contractor has an interest in securing the contract discussed herein, they will be required to submit the information specified in this document (see section 3.0). This information will be used by the Company to complete the bidder
selection (pre-qualification) process. Thereafter, a Request For Proposal (RFP) will be issued to selected (pre-qualified) bidders only.
2.0 SCOPE OF WORK
Marathon Canada Limited seeks qualified companies for the provision of a seabed geophysical survey on the Scotian Slope and Shelf. The project is subject to final Marathon and regulatory approvals and is estimated to commence in June or July 2002. The
seabed survey will be in and around EL 2377, in water depths from approximately 70 meters to approximately 2,000 meters. The survey will determine detailed measurements of water depth, determine seabed features and debris, and sub-bottom conditions to a
maximum of 40 meters penetration.
The purpose of the survey is to determine detailed data for the potential design of a production facility in approximately 1,750 meters water depth and for potential pipeline routes onto the Shelf. The seabed in the area is uneven, so detailed water
depth measurements are necessary for design of facilities and pipelines. The area is relatively well known; as it has been surveyed in 2000 with 3-D seismic and 30 kHz hull-mounted multi-beam echo sounder, and piston and box cores have been taken. The
seabed facility survey will cover approximately 7 km X 7 km, in 1,300 to 2,000 meters water depth, centered in 1,750 meters water depth. The pipeline route area will cover a corridor approximately 2 km wide by 30 km long, from the deepwater facility to
approximately 70 meters water depth. The survey will be in the Annapolis Block, EL. 2377, and in other areas as needed. There is a potential for small patch surveys at future exploration well sites in El. 2377 and EL's 2410 and 2411.
The survey equipment system shall consist of the following:
- Side scan sonar, with a frequency of approximately 100 kHz.
- Sub-bottom profiler, with a frequency between 2 kHz and 14 KHz.
- Multi-beam echo sounder, with a frequency between 100 kHz and 300 kHz.
- All of the equipment must be located on the same survey "fish", and the "fish" must operate near the seabed, 30 to 100 meters above the seabed. The "fish" can be either an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), or a deep-towed fish.
- The "fish" must be tracked by a "chase vessel" above the fish, using an integrated DGPS/INS/acoustic positioning system. In water depths less than approximately 300 meters, a deep-towed fish could be used without a "chase vessel". The absolute
accuracy of the position of the fish shall be better than 6 meters.
- The fish deployment and retrieval system shall be a dedicated system that can safely deploy and retrieve the fish in heavy seas.
- The vessel shall be of sufficient displacement to have good sea keeping ability in the rough seas offshore Nova Scotia.
The survey system (sensors, fish, positioning, fish deployment and retrieval system, and vessel) must be a dedicated, integrated package, with a proven performance history.
All of the data shall be digitally recorded, processed, and interpreted on the survey vessel within 24 hours after acquisition, to determine the quality of the data, to show that full coverage has been obtained, and to determine if additional areas should
be surveyed.
The final product of the survey will be an integrated interpretation and mapping of the near seabed bathymetry and geology. The water depth data will be binned at 3 meters for use in detailed facilities and pipeline studies.
The Bidders must have demonstrated experience with detailed seabed surveys on deepwater continental slopes with rugged topography.
3.0 RESPONSES
The information specified below is to be submitted as part of each company's expression of interest. This information will be used to select the qualified companies that will be invited to bid for the contract.
Respondents shall submit the following information with their EOI's
- List of equipment suite (instruments, fish, positioning, and vessel) that Contractor will propose.
= Performance parameters of the equipment, backed by data examples, including
= swath width achieved with the multi-beam echo sounder
= average survey coverage in square kilometers per day in water depth of approximately 1,500 meters, including line turns, equipment operational maintenance, and infill lines for missed coverage.
= Penetration of sub-bottom profiler in normally consolidated clays.
- Sea-state limits on deployment, operations, and retrieval of the system.
- List of proposed subcontractors
- List of surveys performed with the proposed equipment and subcontractors, with client contacts
- Respondents availability schedule for Summer 2002
Interested parties must have health, safety, and environmental management and quality management systems that meet all requirements of Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB). Furthermore, the Contractor is required to comply with all
regulatory licencing and permitting requirements applicable to working offshore Nova Scotia.
This scope also applies to other exploration activities that may be conducted by Marathon as the Operator on new lands resulting from a Call for Bids or the acquisition of lands from other Operators. Further, Marathon's contract will contain a right of
assignment clause in order to facilitate shared services with other Operators. Marathon will endeavor to optimize efficiencies and operations, and subject to appropriate commercial arrangements, it may be the intent to share these services with other
Operators active in the offshore.
All inquiries and Expressions of Interest should be directed to: MARATHON CANADA LIMITED ATTN: Ross Beckwith Purdy's Tower I, Suite # 1009 1969 Upper Water Street Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3J 3R7 Fax Number 902.423.0289 E-mail:
dbeckwith@marathonoil.com
When responding, interested parties should provide all relevant contact information for their firm including, contact name, telephone number, fax number and email address. Interested parties should demonstrate their capabilities by submitting relevant
background and experience.
IN ADDITION: POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS TO MARATHON, IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, MUST REGISTER THEIR COMPANIES BY CONTACTING BIDS NOVA SCOTIA LIMITED AT: Phone: 902.462.4824 1.800.397.0393 Email: bids@istar.ca
