Abstract

The Hang Tuah Platform is a Movable Offshore Gas Production Unit in the West Natuna Sea Block B operated by Conoco Indonesia Inc. Ltd. (CIIL) on behalf of Pertamina. The name of the platform, Hang Tuah, refers to Indonesia's legendary Melayu Ethnic Commander known for his adventurism and bravery. The Hang Tuah is an important element of the phased development of the Block B gas fields, and production from these fields is one of the sources of supply that feeds the West Natuna Transportation System (WNTS), i.e., the export pipeline system to Singapore.

This platform concept is similar to a production jackup, but it is designed for a small number of field relocations. As such, it provides all the benefits of a bottom-founded structure with the ability to be relocated to other areas of the Natuna Sea anytime during its 25-year design life. The self-installing concept utilizes self-contained buoyancy for flotation and a temporary "on-hire" jacking system to lower the base foundation and elevate the deck.

After four months of concept studies, seven months of in-house preliminary engineering and twelve months of front-end design with Arup Energy in London, an EPCI contract was awarded to a consortium including PT Citra Panji Manunggal, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Corporation (HHI) for the Hang Tuah in early 1999. The EPCI scope of work was to design build and install the complete Hang Tuah platform, including onshore and offshore hook up and commissioning services. Also included were some modifications to the existing Belida platforms, and all subsea work and well control system, but excluding drilling and trees.

The project execution offered many challenges and these were successfully addressed by the CIIL Project Management Team. In particular, the whole execution, from contract award to First Gas was conducted without a single lost workday case or safety incident.