Norwegian independent Det norske has marked the installation of the Ivar Aasen development topside.
The 15,000-tonne topside has now been installed on the jacket, in two lifts using the Saipem 7000, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
During the the past weekend, the bridge between the accommodation unit Prosafe Zephyrus and the platform was installed, enabing up to 400 people will work together on the field towards first oil.
Det norske, which is due to become part of new firm Aker BP, says first oil expected in December 2016.
Bård Atle Hovd, VP Ivar Aasen Project, says: "We are now entering the final phase of the project to prepare the platform for first oil in December. We are on the home stretch of a project that we have implemented as planned."
The Ivar Aasen field is west of the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea and contains approximately 204 MMboe, in five blocks: PL 001B, 028B, 242, 338 and 547; and three deposits: Ivar Aasen, West Cable and Hanz. The economic life of the Ivar Aasen field could be 20 years, depending on oil prices and production trends. The operator is Det norske, holding a 34.8% ownership interest.
The main part of the topside was built in Singapore. The transport started on the 6 June 2016 and took the shortcut through the Suez Canal before arriving at field one month later. The living quarters was built at Stord.
“This is the first major development project for Det norske as operator," adds Hovd. "It is important for me to emphasize that we reach our goals by working as one team with one goal."
In June, Det norske announced an agreement with BP to merge with BP Norge through a share purchase transaction. The combined company will be named Aker BP and will be headquartered at Fornebuporten, Norway.
Øyvind Eriksen will remain chairman of the board and Karl Johnny Hersvik CEO of the combined company. Aker BP will hold a portfolio of 97 licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, of which 46 are operated.
Closing of the transaction is expected late in the third quarter. The merger is conditional upon regulatory and extraordinary general meeting approval.
Images from Det norske.
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