Equinor taps TechnipFMC for three NCS projects

Equinor Energy AS has awarded two contracts and issued a letter of intent to TechnipFMC for pipelaying and subsea installation for three projects on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).

The projects in scope are Breidablikk and the gas import system for the Snorre expansion project, for which contracts have been awarded, and Askeladd Vest, for which a letter of intent has been issued. The Breidablikk contract has subsea installation as an option.

The total value of the three assignments, including the option, is 1.8 billion kroner.

The scope includes fabrication and laying of pipelines, installation of subsea structures, control cables and hook-up and testing of systems. The offshore operations under the contracts are planned to be carried out during 2021-2023.

Pipelines will be fabricated at Orkanger spoolbase before they are reeled onto the installation vessel.

The contract for Breidablikk is subject to a final investment decision, which is expected later this year, and a final regulatory approval. The letter of intent for Askeladd Vest is subject to a final investment decision, which is expected later this year.

The Snorre Gas Import System is part of the ongoing Snorre expansion project and includes laying of a new 24-km, 12-inch pipeline between Gullfaks and Snorre fields. The gas will be used as pressure support to improve the recovery rate of Snorre. The pipelaying will be carried out in 2021 and remaining marine operations in 2022.

Equinor-operated Breidablikk, an oil discovery northeast of Grane field, will be developed as a subsea field with a tie-back to the Grane platform.

Equinor-operated Askeladd Vest, a segment in Askeladd field that is part of the Snøhvit unit, will be drained by depletion via two gas producers. The Askeladd Vest template will be tied back to the already installed Askeladd templates with a pipeline and an umbilical.