Perth-based companies, Technip-Coflexip Oceania and Subsea 7 Australia, won the $100 million subsea installation activities contract while the $40 million rock dumping contract was awarded to the Dutch outfit Van Oord ACZ Offshore BV.

The Technip-Coflexip - Subsea 7 Joint Venture will provide specialist subsea installation services including provision of a diving support vessel and heavy lift vessel.

The scope of work includes installation of two large subsea valve skids, installation over the deepwater section of the trunkline of 900, 32-tonne pre-cast concrete gravity anchors, removal of 40"/30" ball valves currently at the base of the North Rankin A gas production platform as well as installation of a skid-based 40" subsea isolation check valve.

Work on the contract, which will have a peak workforce of about 200 people, is expected to start in August 2003 and be completed by June 2004.

Subsea 7 Australia is the subsidiary of the 50/50 joint venture between Halliburton's subsea business and Norwegian shipping company DSND. The venture was formed in May this year, according to Steve Wisely, Asia Pacific vice president, from the company's Singapore office.

"Project management is in place in our partner's offices in Fremantle and recruiting has started already," he said. Richard Ricket has been appointed project manager.

As for the rock dumping, which involves the placement of about 450,000 sq.m of locally quarried rock on the trunkline to stabilise it on the seabed, work will start in July 2003 and be completed in January 2004.