DNV GL advises Wintershall offshore ops in Norway

DNV GL, the technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, has been selected by Wintershall Norge AS to provide a frame agreement for global inspection services for its developments offshore Norway. The overall contract is expected to exceed NOK 10 million (approx $1.2 million).

The term of the contract is five years, with an option for two, two-year extensions and covers all Wintershall’s projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). It will initially be used for the ongoing Maria development.

DNV GL will perform inspection, test and surveillance activities on a worldwide basis as instructed by Wintershall Norge AS. The scope of services includes: review of the Inspection and Test Plan (ITP), examination of materials, products, manufacturing processes, work procedures and/or services at Wintershall’s contractor’s premises. DNV GL will also examine contractor’s procedures, documents, quality performance and compliance with governing standards and specifications.

The frame agreement will be coordinated by the DNV GL Stavanger office with resources from the Inspection Division.

“Wintershall Norge AS is a new and important operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf,” said Kjell Eriksson, Regional Manager – Norway, DNV GL – Oil & Gas. “We are involved with the Maria field across several assignments and this agreement for all Wintershall developments globally will further strengthen our relationship. It reinforces the high quality and value of our broad range of inspection services and expertise to the oil and gas industry and our ability to deliver services to meet project timelines and budgets.”

The frame agreement is now underway and inspection and surveillance work is planned to be carried out across a number of locations including Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway and Malaysia, where subsea equipment components and structures will be manufactured.

DNV GL is also the sole supplier for the combined role of Independent Verification Body (IVB) and Third Party Design Verification scope for the subsea, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) part of the Maria field development project. The contract is expected to run until the end of 2018, with a potential value of 30 million NOK (approx $3.95 million).

The Maria oil discovery is located in 300 to 350m of water in the Haltenbanken region of the Norwegian Sea. Maria will be developed using a subsea facility tied via rigid flowlines and flexible risers to Kristin with gas lift being supplied from Åsgard B via Tyrihans and sulphate reduced sea water supplied with injection pressure from Heidrun. The discovery is expected to produce around 188 million barrels of oil equivalent oil and gas. First oil is planned in Autumn 2018.