“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.
Published 05 April 2018
