Aker BP cleared to deploy vessel with gangway for access at multiple offshore assets

Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has received consent from the country’s offshore safety regulator to use a vessel with gangway for access (W2W) to carry out operations on three fields offshore Norway.

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) disclosed recently that it had given Aker BP consent to use a vessel with a gangway for access as a part of the operating concept on multiple facilities, including Valhall Flank West, Valhall Flank South, Valhall Flank North, Hod A, Hod B, and Tambar.

In addition, the consent encompasses the use of a vessel on a normally unmanned installation (NUI), where the purpose is to test and gather experience with the vessel with a gangway for access as a part of the operating concept on these facilities.

Located in the southern part of the Norwegian sector in the North Sea, in a water depth of 70 metres, the Valhall field was discovered in 1975, and the initial plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 1977. The field was originally developed with three facilities for accommodation (QP), drilling (DP) and processing (PCP). The production started in 1982.

Furthermore, a PDO for a wellhead facility (WP) was approved in 1995 and for a water injection platform (IP) in 2000 while bridges connect the platforms. A PDO for two wellhead platforms on the northern and southern flanks was approved in 2001 while a PDO for Valhall redevelopment was approved in 2007.

According to Aker BP, the PDO included an accommodation and processing platform (PH) to replace ageing facilities on the field. The PH-platform is supplied with power from shore. A PDO for Valhall Flank West was approved in 2018 and entailed a normally unmanned wellhead platform. 

On the other hand, the Hod field is located in the southern part of the Norwegian sector in the North Sea, about 13 kilometres south of the Valhall field. The water depth is 72 metres and the field was discovered in 1974. The PDO was approved in 1988. Production started in 1990. Additionally, a PDO for the redevelopment of Hod was approved in December 2020, covering the installation of a new wellhead platform tied into the Valhall field centre.

Moreover, the Tambar field is situated in the southern part of the Norwegian sector in the North Sea, 16 kilometres southeast of the Ula field. The water depth is 68 metres and the field was discovered in 1983. The plan for development and operation was approved in 2000. The field has been developed with a remotely controlled wellhead facility without processing equipment and production started in 2001.