Aibel lifted the final three modules into place for the Johan Sverdrup drilling platform earlier this week. The platform arrived in Haugesund on 5 September, where the facility will remain for hook-up and preparation work, until it is handed over to Statoil in mid-2018.
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The Johan Sverdrup topsides. Images from Øyvind Sætre/Aibel. |
The assembly of the three platform modules in Klosterfjorden is one of the largest inshore marine operations in Norwegian history, says Aibel.
According to the company, the main activities of the operation have been to connect the three modules that constitute the drilling platform for the Johan Sverdrup field.
The first lift was carried out early Sunday (3 September) morning. The crane vessel Thialf lifted the 10,250-tonne heavy main support frame (MSF), built at Aibel’s yard in Thailand, on board the integration barge.
The following day, the 8000-tonne drilling support module (DSM) was lifted into place on top of the MSF. The lift of the drilling equipment set (DES) from Aibel’s partner Nymo in Grimstad concluded the lifting activities and left one joined platform, which including the grillage is 147m tall, weighing some 22,000-tonne.
“Through two and a half years, our own skilled team has had close collaboration with Statoil, Heerema and other involved parties to plan the operation minute by minute. That effort is now paying off in form of a safe and successful execution in accordance with our plans,” says Stig Jessen, Aibel project director for the Johan Sverdrup drilling platform.
The Johan Sverdrup platform arrived Aibel’s yard in Haugesund on 5 September.
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“Here, it will be moored in autumn and winter, while all installations will be completed, and equipment and systems will be tested and verified, says Aibel. “In early summer 2018, the largest platform deck ever built by Aibel will be handed over to Statoil and head for the field in the North Sea.”
Johan Sverdrup’s Phase 1 is on track for first oil in late 2019, with an estimated production capacity of 440,000 boe/d.
Phase 2 will add another processing platform to the field centre which is estimated to increase the processing capacity for the full field to 660,000 b/d. Phase 2 is scheduled to start production in 2022.
Earlier this week partners Aker BP and Lundin said gross capital expenditure was reduced to US$11.8 billion (NOK 92 billion), representing a savings of 25% from the original estimate.
Aibel was awarded the contract for hook-up of the drilling platform at the Johan Sverdrup field in summer 2018. The hook-up will involve up to 600 employees in rotation until the summer of 2019.
Statoil is the operator of the Johan Sverdrup project with 40.0267% stake. Partners include Lundin Norway (22.6%), Maersk Oil (8.44%), Petoro (17.36%), and Aker BP (11.5733%).
Read more:
Further Johan Sverdrup costs shed
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