Statoil installs Valemon topsides in Norwegian North Sea

July 28, 2014
Statoil ASA has installed topsides for the Valemon platform on Blocks 34/11 and 34/10 in the Norwegian North Sea. Samsung Heavy Industries built the structure after receiving a 2.3-billion kroner contract in 2011.

Statoil ASA has installed topsides for the Valemon platform on Blocks 34/11 and 34/10 in the Norwegian North Sea. Samsung Heavy Industries built the structure after receiving a 2.3-billion kroner contract in 2011 (OGJ Online, May 18, 2011).

The topsides departed South Korea on June 15, reaching Norway after 40 days. The Saipem 7000 crane vessel lifted the 9,750-tonne topsides onto the steel jacket, installed in 2012, over a 2-hr period (OGJ Online, June 19, 2012). The flare boom was subsequently installed.

The West Elara rig has predrilled production wells through the jacket. Well operations will resume in mid-October. Statoil plans for three wells to produce when the field comes on stream at yearend. Drilling on the field is planned to continue until 2017.

Statoil says field commissioning will occur in the coming months, as the company will link wells with onboard production facilities, install seawater pumps, and connect electricity, water, and pipelines.

Valemon will be powered from Kvitebjorn, which lies to the west of Valemon. Cable as well as gas and condensate pipelines—linked to Heimdal and Kvitebjorn, respectively—have already been laid on the seabed.

“Some work remains before we are ready for start-up, but we are on track,” said Bjorn Laastad, Statoil vice-president for Valemon field development.

While good weather accommodated a timely installation of the topsides, Statoil cautions that poor weather could cause delayed commissioning work.