Offshore staff
LYSAKER, Norway – Heerema’s Thialf has installed the 2,000-metric ton (2,205-ton) Valhall Flank West topsides for Aker BP at the Valhall field in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
Both the topsides and the jacket were delivered ahead of schedule, with installation completed 14 months after first steel was cut at Kværner’s yard in Verdal.
This was the first delivery under the wellhead platform alliance between Aker BP, Aker Solutions, Kværner, and ABB.
The consignment sailed from Verdal on June 16 and arrived at the offshore location with no carry-over work from the yard, substantially reducing the work scope offshore.
“This is probably the most complete platform ever installed in the North Sea,” claimed Aker BP CEO Johnny Hersvik. “All planned construction work is complete and just 7% of the commissioning phase remains…
“We see a definite effect from the alliance model…Compared with similar projects, we have seen substantial reductions in cost, engineering hours, and construction of the topsides and jacket.”
Hook-up preparations are under way, with the crews being transported to the platform using vessels. The jackup Maersk Invincible should arrive in the next few days to start drilling the six development wells, and it will also serve as a living quarter platform during hook-up/commissioning.
“Valhall Flank West…can contribute around 60 MMboe to Valhall’s production,” said Valhall asset manager Per Mikal Hauge. “The West Flank has capacity for another six wells, and we are now looking into the possibility of more wells and increased value creation from the field.”
At the Valhall field center, the modification alliance has undertaken preparatory works over the past year to accommodate production from Valhall Flank West. The subsea alliance has laid pipelines and an umbilical which can now be pulled into place.
Aker BP is investing NOK5.5 billion ($648 million) in Valhall Flank West with a break-even price for the project of $28.5/bbl.
06/24/2019
