Norway's Den norske stats oljeselskap AS (Statoil) has let contract to Kvaerner AS, Oslo, to build the world's largest gas production semisubmersible.
Kvaerner said the contract ranks as the biggest offshore development contract ever placed in Norway and will require a total 6 million man-hr.
Aasgard B platform will be used in development of three gas/condensate fields in the Norwegian Sea, under the Aasgard project that is viewed as key to opening up further gas discoveries off central Norway.
The contract is valued at 6.6 billion kroner ($1 billion) and will see construction of a unit with capacity to export 38 million cu m/day and reinject 11 million cu m/day of gas and process 94,000 b/d of condensate.
Aasgard B platform is slated to begin production on Oct. 1, 2000. The unit will weigh 17,000 metric tons and carry a topsides of about 28,000 tons.
Aasgard development is already under way, with a production ship being built to start oil production in October 1998 (OGJ, Aug. 19, 1996, p. 50). A storage vessel, Aasgard C, will be built to handle liquids output.
Aasgard project will involve development of Midgard, Smoerbukk, and South Smoerbukk fields, with combined estimated reserves of 212 billion cu m of gas and 775 million bbl of oil and condensate.
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