Statoil has awarded Aibel a letter of intent for engineering, procurement and construction of the deck for the process platform (P2) in phase 2 of the Johan Sverdrup development. The final contract is expected to be signed later this year and has an estimated value of approx. NOK eight billion.

“This is a day of celebration for Aibel as we have received the ultimate confirmation that we have both the required expertise and competitiveness to deliver such a large and important project. The organisation has gained substantial expertise from the delivery of the Johan Sverdrup drilling platform, which is currently undergoing completion at our yard in Haugesund. We are looking forward to continuing realisation of the next phase of the Sverdrup field along with Statoil,” says CEO and President of Aibel, Mads Andersen.

The contract includes engineering, procurement and fabrication (EPC). Work starts immediately and will be headed up from Aibel’s office in Asker. Aibel’s engineering office in Thailand and the company’s own yards in Thailand and Haugesund will also be key to the delivery, which at its peak, will involve around 3,500 employees.

Historic project
With an estimated value of approx. NOK eight billion and a total weight of 23,000 tons, the project will be the largest in Aibel’s history and one of the largest individual contracts that has been awarded on the Norwegian continental shelf ever. At the same time, it is a historic project for the entire Johan Sverdrup field, as the process platform also includes an integrated AC converter. This will contribute to ensure full electrification with shore power from the plant at Haugsneset to the Johan Sverdrup field and the rest of the Utsira Height area, including the Gina Krog, Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen fields.

“At Aibel we are proud to have been shown this confidence from Statoil and their license partners. It is an honour to play such a large and active part in the Sverdrup development and at the same time contribute to more environmental operations on the Norwegian continental shelf. This is a perfect fit with our vision of providing sustainable solutions. Now we have a unique opportunity to demonstrate that we can live up to our own ambitions,” Andersen says.

Tried and tested delivery model
The construction of the P2 process platform will follow the same implementation model that Aibel has used for the drilling platform for the Johan Sverdrup field. This means that the platform will consist of three modules, from which two – the upper process module (UPM) and converter module (HVDC) – will be built at the company’s yard in Haugesund. The third module – the main support frame (MSF) – will be built at Aibel’s yard in Thailand.

“Through several years we have proven that we are capable of delivering large comprehensive projects at competitive terms, and that we have an organisation that is both competent and experienced across our locations. With internal rationalisation and improvement measures and good experience from construction of the drilling platform, I’m convinced that we will take a new giant project in our stride,” says Nils Arne Hatleskog, EVP for Field Development and Offshore Wind at Aibel.

Construction activities will commence in the first quarter of 2019. Integration of the three modules is planned to start in the second quarter of 2021, and will take place at the yard in Haugesund. The finished platform deck, at around 23,000 tons, is scheduled for delivery to Statoil in the first half of 2022.

About Aibel

Aibel is a leading service company within the oil and gas industry and is established in renewable energy.

The company`s around 4,000 employees in Norway and abroad are engaged onshore and offshore. With six locations in Norway, the company is located near the customers. In addition to operations in Norway, Aibel is also located in Thailand, Singapore and Denmark.

About Statoil

Statoil ASA (OSE: STL, NYSE: STO) is an international energy company with operations in more than 30 countries, present in several of the most important oil and gas provinces in the world. Building on more than 45 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, we are committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions.
Statoil is among the world's largest net sellers of crude oil and condensate, the second-largest supplier of natural gas to the European market, and we also have substantial processing and refining operations.
Statoil’s equity oil and gas production is around 2 million barrels oil equivalent per day. Statoil has contracted a fleet of around 90 ship for transportation of oil and LNG.
Statoil is headquartered in Norway with 21,000 employees worldwide, and is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.