Global ocean services provider DeepOcean has been awarded a significant subsea contract package by Equinor for multiple fields on the Norwegian continental shelf, including the Barents Sea, with offshore work spanning 2027-28.

The contract package includes subsea work scope at the Visund field in the North Sea, the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea, and an option for potential work at the Snorre A subsea field in the North Sea.

SIMOPRO job

At the Visund field, DeepOcean has been awarded an SIMOPRO – simultaneous marine operation and production – installation contract involving replacement of both a gas export riser and oil export riser. A SIMOPRO operation involves execution of complex marine operations activities while the offshore facility remains in production.

DeepOcean will undertake onshore project management, engineering, fabrication and procurement, as well as offshore installation activities. Offshore operations also include required survey, dredging, tie-ins and pre-commissioning activities at the field.

“Assignments of this complexity require strong coordination and robust safety planning across both the operator and our subcontractor network to secure seamless execution. Our proven track record on comparable projects for Equinor makes us proud to be selected again,” says Olaf A. Hansen, Executive Vice President for DeepOcean’s Northern Europe region.

In September last year, Equinor awarded similar SIMOPRO jobs to DeepOcean, for riser replacements at Åsgard B and Visund, respectively.

Barents Sea Subsea Tie-back

Isflak is an oil discovery located approximately 8.5 km from the Johan Castberg FPSO and will be developed as the first satellite tie-back to the facility. DeepOcean will install a four-slot template and a manifold module, in addition to installing flowlines and a static umbilical with associated survey, tie-ins and pre-commissioning operations.

“As subsea tie-back and life extension projects increasingly target marginal fields, smart, cost-efficient solutions and close collaboration are critical to unlocking value and ensuring these developments remain viable. We look forward to working with Equinor on this journey,“ Hansen adds.

Snorre Option

The award also includes options for recovery of eight existing risers and umbilicals connecting the underwater production area (UPA) and the Snorre A production facilities.

The offshore work at Visund, Isflak and Snorre A spans across the 2027-28 seasons where DeepOcean will deploy construction vessels from its high-specification chartered subsea fleet. The water depths at the various fields are in the range of 300-400 meters.

About DeepOcean

DeepOcean is a world-leading ocean services provider, enabling energy transition and sustainable use of ocean resources, offering survey, engineering, project management, installation, maintenance, and recycling services for oil and gas, offshore renewables, deep sea minerals, and other ocean services.

Across the global offices, DeepOcean is a trusted independent solutions provider with highly skilled industry experts, using world-class fit-for-purpose tools and technology to drive cost-efficient and safe operations. The company delivers innovative engineering solutions focusing on remote and unmanned operations and digitally-enabled services while continuously striving to lower the carbon footprint.

DeepOcean is owned by Triton, a leading European mid-market sector-specialist investor. As an active owner, Triton supports its portfolio companies to reach their full potential and works closely with DeepOcean to drive value creation. Founded in 1997, Triton invests in businesses that provide important goods and services in the Business Services, Industrial Tech, and Healthcare sectors.

About Equinor

Equinor ASA is an international energy company headquartered in Norway. The company employs around 21,000 people worldwide. Equinor is already one of the world's most CO2-efficient producers of oil and gas. Equinor leverages strong synergies between oil, gas, renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen. Equinor participates in a consortium that has started the construction of the Northern Lights project, the world’s first full-scale and open-source CO2 transportation and storage project. The company has a growing portfolio in offshore wind with wind farms in Europe and the USA and is involved in various hydrogen projects throughout Europe.