Statoil selects Sparrows for Mariner crane services

Norway’s energy giant Statoil has hired Sparrows Group for the supply of cranes and maintenance services on the Mariner field development project in the North Sea.

Sparrows will supply crane operator personnel to support drilling, operations, maintenance and logistics, and will deliver maintenance and engineering services to ensure the availability and reliability of the Mariner A platform’s two pedestal cranes.

Options to extend the contract mean it could potentially run for a total of nine years.

Stewart Mitchell, chief executive officer at Sparrows Group, said: “As the longest-established North Sea crane engineering company, it is an honour to be involved as work begins on one of the most high profile projects the region has seen in many years. We hope Mariner has a long and successful life ahead of it.

“The platform will be subject to high levels of lifting activity with both the north and south cranes working to support the drilling operations, so our experienced operators and maintenance personnel will be integral to ensuring optimal operational performance.”

Statoil has already engaged Sparrows Group’s engineering team to support them with the integration of the cranes’ and mechanical handling equipment during the platform’s construction phase which is currently ongoing in South Korea.

Mariner A will be equipped with A-frame, lattice boom cranes mounted on fixed pedestals. The two crane capacities are 50 tonne capacity at 40 meter radius and 17 tonne capacity at maximum radius of 60m.

Full provision of training and competency services is included in the contract, along with equipment modification, upgrade and replacement components, as well as repair and maintenance of equipment onshore.

The Mariner field is located approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles and consists of two shallow reservoir sections.

Due to begin operation in 2018, it is expected that the field will contribute more than 250 mmbbls reserves with average plateau production of around 55,000 barrels per day. Mariner is expected to have a 30-year field life.