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Record-breaking lift completes Johan Sverdrup field centre

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The two final platform topsides, a bridge and a flare stack have been installed at Johan Sverdrup, completing the first phase of construction at the Norwegian North Sea field centre.

Using the heavy lift vessel 
Pioneering Spirit’s single lift technology, the processing platform lift – nearly 26,000 tonnes – set a new lifting record offshore. The vessel also carried out the lift for the 18,000 tonnes utility and living quarters, while the final flare stack and the bridge linking the processing platform to the drilling platform were lifted into place by the heavy lift vessel Thialf. The final bridge to connect the utility and living quarters topside to the rest of the field centre will be installed in the next possible weather window.

With the installation campaign completed, the project is on track to start production in November 2019.

Johan Sverdrup is one of the five largest oil fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. With estimated recoverable resources of 2.7bn boe, it is one of the most important industrial projects in Norway in the next 50 years. At plateau, the field will contribute up to 25% of Norway’s total production of oil and gas, while power from shore gives the field carbon emissions of just 0.67 kg CO
2 per barrel, which is reported to be among the lowest in the world and 25 times lower than the average, according to Equinor, project operator.

The Johan Sverdrup field will be developed in several phases. Phase 1 will start in November 2019, with an estimated production capacity of 440,000 b/d of oil. After start-up of the second phase of the project in 4Q2022, the field is expected to produce 660,000 b/d of oil at peak.

Equinor holds a 0.0267% stake in the project, as is operator, partnered by Lundin Norway 22.6%, Petoro 17.36%, Aker BP 11.5733% and Total 8.44%.

Transfer and installation of Johan Sverdrup’s utility and living quarters topside
Photo: Roar Lindefjeld/Espen Ronnevik/Equnior

News Item details


Journal title: Petroleum Review

Countries: Norway -

Subjects: Oil, Exploration and production

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