Irpa, in 1,350 m of water, will be the second-deepest development on the NCS to date. The near 80-km subsea tieback should extend the life of the Aasta Hansteen to about 2039.
Westcon Helgeland will deliver large parts of the subsea equipment under sub-contract to TechnipFMC. Momek in Mo i Rana, a subcontractor of Aibel, is responsible for modifying the platform for the Irpa gas tie-in.
Equinor estimates capex at NOK14.8 billion ($1.37 billion), with startup planned for late 2026. The gas will head through existing Aasta Hansteen infrastructure for transportation via the Polarled pipeline to the Nyhamna processing plant in western Norway.
From there, the gas will be sent through the Langeled pipeline system to the UK and mainland Europe.
Verdande will help extend Norne’s productive life and support the 900 person-years of employment (direct and indirect) associated with field operations. It comprises the recent Cape Vulture and Alve Northeast discoveries in 350-380 m of water, and about 300 km southwest of Bodø.
Equinor expects to recover 36 MMboe, mainly oil, at a cost of NOK4.7 billion ($437 million), with startup in fourth-quarter 2025.
Aibel’s modifications and maintenance suppliers in Harstad, and other subcontractors in northern Norway will be involved, with Aibel also performing modifications to the FPSO related to Andvare, which will be drilled as a sidetrack from one of the existing subsea templates on the Norne Field.
Andvare, targeting just under 2 Bcm, will cost NOK500 million ($46.5 million) and should come onstream next year.
06.28.2023
