Emerson named Main Automation Contractor for Total's Akpo FPSO

Emerson Process Management announces that it has been chosen as Main Automation Contractor (MAC) for Total's Akpo Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel of the Akpo field development. The Akpo field is located 200 kilometers off the coast of Nigeria in water depths of 1100 to 1700 meters.

The Akpo FPSO is 310 meters long and 61 meters wide, and will process and store oil for delivery to tankers or via pipelines to refineries. The Akpo FPSO hull will have a storage capacity of two million barrels of oil, and the FPSO will produce 225,000 barrels of oil per day.

Since early production of first oil is key, the FPSO is on an aggressive schedule, with startup planned for the third quarter of 2008. The gas and condensate field will come on stream late in 2008, and the FPSO is expected to quickly reach peak production of 225,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Emerson's Main Automation Contractor responsibilities include development, installation, configuration, testing, and commissioning of the systems controlling the vessel topsides, hull, subsea and radar tank gauging. In addition, Emerson will be responsible for integrating the safety system.

Working closely with Total, which has been licensed to develop the field, Emerson collaborated on Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) and proposed a phased delivery of automation equipment. Initial phases were used to validate the design. Emerson has worked with Total on many projects, particularly in West Africa. Emerson's experience in international project management will be used to provide coordination and consistency between contractors in Europe and Korea. Emerson will be involved in installation, commissioning and start-up on site in Nigeria.

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