All systems go for Equinor to dispatch AKOFS vessel for well intervention work off Norway

Norwegian state-owned oil and gas player Equinor has received consent from the country’s offshore safety regulator to use one of AKOFS Offshore’s well intervention vessels on multiple fields located on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) disclosed on Thursday, 15 June 2023, that it had given Equinor consent to use the mobile drilling facility AKOFS Seafarer for light well intervention and coiled tubing in the period 1 June 2023 to 15 June 2025 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Norwegian offshore safety watchdog explains that light well intervention is wireline-based well maintenance, whereby a cable is routed directly through the water and down into the well without the use of a riser.

The AKOFS Seafarer vessel will work on Snøhvit, including Askeladd; Johan Castberg; Åsgard, including Smørbukk; Midgard; Morvin; Trestakk; Mikkel; Kristin, including Maria and Tyrihans; Norne, including Alve, Urd and Skuld; Njord, including Hyme, Bauge and Fenja; Hyme; Bauge; Heidrun; Visund, including Visund Sør and Visund Nord; Troll; Fram, including Fram Nord and Byrding; Oseberg, including Tune; Gullfaks; Snorre, including Toris and Vigdis; Statfjord, including Statfjord Nord, Statfjord Øst and Sygna; Sleipner, including Sigyn and Utgard; Johan Sverdrup; Svalin; Breidablikk; Martin Linge; and Aasta Hansteen fields.

Prior to being converted into a well intervention vessel, AKOFS Seafarer was originally a supply ship built at the STX Europe Søviknes shipyard in 2010. The vessel received an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) from the PSA in August 2020. AKOFS Seafarer is fitted with a 42-metre tall derrick with an active heave compensated cranes and has a skidding system with pallet capacities of 100 tonnes in the moonpool area and 60 tonnes outside.