The templates on the Gjøa field in the North Sea have been installed and are ready for drilling start-up in the middle of November.
Thanks to good weather there were no delays during the installation. (Photo: Petter Alhaug)
“During September we have completed the most comprehensive marine operations this year,” says Ole J Nordahl, head of marine operations in the Gjøa project. “Four integrated templates and a satellite structure have been installed on the seabed.”
The templates are being lowered to the seabed. (Photo: Petter Alhaug)
The offshore operations have been conducted as planned. Five vessels and around 450 workers have been involved in the first installations on Gjøa.
On schedule
“Our suppliers have done a good job,” says a pleased Bjørn Midttun, project manager for Gjøa subsea and pipes. “Gjøa is a complicated puzzle, and we are totally dependent on the work being carried out according to agreement in order to obtain a smooth transfer from one supplier to another. Focus on health, safety and environment, both before the operations started and on board the vessels, has also produced results we can be proud of. Thanks to good weather we have also avoided any delays.”
Useful experiences
The biggest challenge during the installation was posed by a completely new construction vessel with new systems, a new large crane and a new crew.
“We had some challenges in the beginning and we had to do some testing, but clever personnel handled these challenges well. The procedures and working methods we have introduced during the year will be optimised and form the basis for the 2009 operations, which will be an important year for the Gjøa project. Next year, 15-20 vessels will be in operation and we are talking about roughly 1000 vessel days.”
Production start is expected in the autumn of 2010.
Illustration: The Gjøa field in the North Sea
Facts about Gjøa
- Gjøa, including the Vega satellite development, is the largest project in the North Sea today.
- Gjøa is being developed with a semi-submersible production platform and five subsea templates.
- With Gjøa, a new part of the North Sea is being opened for oil and gas production.
- Gjøa will be StatoilHydro’s first floating platform to get its electricity from the mainland. This will mean a reduction in emissions to the environment of 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
- StatoilHydro is the operator for the Gjøa development, while Gaz de France Norge will assume operatorship at production start-up.
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