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Gjøa platform heads to North Sea
 The semisubmersible platform for the Gjøa field has left the Aker Solutions
yard and is being towed toward its offshore destination.
Statoil, with 20% interest, is operating the development phase of the project, which is due to start up this
fall. GDF E&P Norge (30%) will take over during the production phase. Other
interests are Petoro (30%), Shell 12%, and RWE Dea 8%.
Photo: Tommy
Solstad / Statoil
Aker Solutions designed, engineered, and assembled the platform, which will be linked to five
subsea templates. It will have a topside weight of 22,000 metric tons (24,251 tons) and a
hull dry weight of 15,000 metric tons (16,534 tons).
The Gjøa deck is 110 m (361 ft) long and 85 m (279 ft) wide, with a 143-m (469-ft) flare
tower. Over 500 Aker Solutions engineers were involved in the design, mobilized from Oslo and
Mumbai. During final assembly at Stord, the workforce peaked at 3,000.
Other Aker Solutions divisions in Egersund, Verdal, Moss, and Pusnes contributed various
structural packages and modules, while Aker Marine Contractors is responsible for
installation of the mooring system, and transportation and installation.
Gjøa’s recoverable reserves are estimated at 82 MMboe of oil and condensate, and 40 bcm (1.4
tcf) of gas. The satellite Vega field adds 26 MMboe of condensate and 18 bcm (636 bcf) of gas. Oil will be exported by pipeline to Statoil’s refinery at Mongstad, while the gas will
head through the Flags pipeline to Scotland.
According to Statoil, an unusually harsh winter delayed the project schedule. Also, a review
revealed the need for numerous minor modifications to the hull, causing it to be held in dock
for an extended period.
Four anchor-handling vessels are performing the tow-out, which is expected to take one and a
half days. Work will then start on connecting the platforms to the pipelines and subsea
installations, followed by final trials and completion works.
Statoil claims this will be the first floating platform to be supplied with electricity from
the shore, the aim being to cut environmental emissions by around 250,000 metric tons/yr
(275,578 tons/yr).
©
Offshore Weekly Report - June 21, 2010
and Oil & Gas Journal, June 21,
2010
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