Equinor lets Wisting FPSO topsides FEED contract to Aibel
Equinor Energy AS awarded Aibel a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study contract covering topside modules for the proposed floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel for Wisting field development in the Barents Sea.
The contract includes FEED work and further maturation of the FPSO topsides design to support the Wisting partners' project execution decision. It also contains an option for engineering, procurement, and project management (EPma) services. Any contract for fabrication of the topside modules would be awarded later, Equinor said.
Work will begin immediately and is scheduled for completion in late 2027. The FEED study will form part of the basis for the Wisting license partners' planned investment decision in late 2027.
Equinor and partners plan to decide on concept selection and the project's further progression by yearend 2026.
“We are at an early stage in the development of Wisting, and considerable work remains to develop a project that is profitable and feasible,” said Trond Bokn, Equinor's senior vice-president for project development.
Wisting
Wisting, discovered in 2013 in the Hoop area of the Barents Sea about 310 km north of Hammerfest, is the largest oil discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf yet to be developed. The field contains estimated recoverable resources of just under 500 MMboe. Water depths across the development area are 390-418 m.
In July, Equinor submitted for public consultation a proposed program for the environmental impact assessment for a potential field development. The Wisting partnership selected an FPSO concept for potential development.
Equinor is operator of Wisting with a 42.5% interest. Partners are Aker BP ASA (27.5%), Petoro AS (20%), and INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS (10%).