TotalEnergies has awarded Vallourec a contract covering the supply of tubular products for the Absheron gas field, located in Azerbaijan's sector of the Caspian Sea. The order amounts to more than 16,000 tonnes of tubular goods. It ties the pipe manufacturer to gas development work in the Azerbaijani offshore.
Tubular products are the steel pipes used to line wellbores, contain pressure and carry fluids between the reservoir and surface facilities. They are a core procurement category in any offshore gas project, and a package exceeding 16,000 tonnes represents a significant supply commitment. Demand for tubulars rises with the number and depth of wells in a development, so the tonnage gives an indication of the scale of well work involved. Deliveries on this scale are normally phased against the drilling schedule, giving the project a defined source of pipe.
The Absheron field sits in the Caspian Sea, a landlocked basin whose conditions shape both the technical requirements placed on equipment and the logistics of delivering it. TotalEnergies is carrying out the development, with the tubular package supporting that work. Supplying a Caspian project also involves transport planning that differs from open-water developments, since the sea has no direct open-water access.
For Vallourec, the award adds a sizeable volume to its order book and reinforces its standing as a supplier to offshore gas developments. For the Absheron project, it secures the pipe required to drill and complete wells as the development advances. The contract also illustrates how operators continue to place large tubular orders with established manufacturers as offshore gas projects move forward.
Source: Offshore Engineer
