Repsol moves on Yme, contracts for Maersk and Kvaerner

Repsol Norge is moving forward with a new attempt to develop the Yme field offshore Norway. 

The firm has awarded a contract to Maersk Drilling for use of the combined drilling and production jackup Mærsk Inspirer for five years, with a five-year extension. It will drill on and produce from the Yme field. 

Following modification work to the production module, the contract is expected to start operations in Q4 2019. 

Kvaerner has been awarded a contract with Repsol Norge for the construction of a permanent caisson support structure for the Yme New Development project.

The Yme field was discovered in 1987 and produced about 50MMbbl from 1996 to 2001 until low oil prices led to its closure by operator Statoil.An earlier attempt to develop the Norwegian North Sea field, led by Talisman, was hit by issues with the substructure of a mobild offshore production unit (MOPU), which had been installed in the field. A decision to scrap the MOPU platform was made in March 2013, and the structure removed last year in Allseas' maiden offshore lift for the Pioneering Spirit heavy lift vessel. 

Kvaerner's contract scope, valued at about US$8.5 million (NOK 70 million), includes procurement of materials and construction of the Yme support structure, which will be 38m tall and weigh 1300-tonne. Planning, procurement and method work start immediately, while the fabrication in Verdal starts in January 2018. Delivery of the Caisson Permanent Support is planned for June 2018, Kvaerner said in a 16 November statement.

Constructing the support structure will engage around 60-70 people at Kvaerner's yard in Verdal in the building period.

"For the yard in Verdal this is an important contract, which in terms of capacity fits well with the construction of the drilling and process platform jackets for Johan Sverdrup and the four blisters for Njord, which will be delivered next year", says Sturla Magnus, EVP in Kvaerner responsible for Structural Solutions and the yard in Verdal.

Mærsk Inspirer was built in 2004 and converted in 2007 to offer simultaneous drilling and production services on the Volve field for Statoil. This contract was completed in early 2017 after 10 years of successful operations for Statoil. Today, the jack-up rig is the only asset in the North Sea with these unique dual capabilities offering the customers flexibility and a lower overall cost.