Offshore staff
LYSAKER, Norway – Aker BP has started production from the Hod B development in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
First steel for the normally unmanned Hod B wellhead platform was cut at Aker Solutions’ yard in Verdal, western Norway in June 2020. The platform was installed 14 months later at the field location.
Subsea 7 was responsible for installation and connection of the gas lift pipelines, production flowlines and umbilicals.
The jackup Maersk Invincible has drilled six production wells, and there have been associated modifications at the Valhall field center which receives Hod’s production and controls the platform.
Five alliances contributed to the project, which should eventually deliver 40 MMbbl of oil. According to Aker BP, the production will have close to zero CO2 emissions due to power from shore.
In a separate development, the company has awarded Palfinger Marine Norway a 10-year framework agreement. It is divided into four phases – pre-engineering, implementation, research and development, and operations.
Palfinger will provide remote ops technology and collaborate with Aker BP during the operations phase for the cranes. The agreement targets increased standardization and reduced operating costs.
Later this year, Aker BP expects to take a final investment decision for NOA Fulla in the NOAKA area of the northern Norwegian North Sea and a new central platform on Valhall (NCP), with tie-in of the King Lear field.
Palfinger will supply a total of six electric cranes for four platforms for these two projects.
“We see opportunities for major reductions in operating costs, reduced risk and exposure of personnel through remote-controlled operations,” said Aker BP’s Senior Vice President operations and asset development, Ine Dolve.
When production starts in 2027, the NOA Fulla field will be controlled from an integrated operations center in Stavanger. The NOA PdQ platform will be designed for low manning, and will periodically be unmanned.
4/12/2022
