Equinor inks helicopter deal, adds Vår Energi to the mix

Norwegian oil giant Equinor has awarded CHC a contract for personnel transportation from Stavanger airport, Sola. Equinor has also entered into a helicopter sharing agreement with Vår Energi.

Equinor said on Wednesday that the CHC contract will run from 1 July 2021 for a fixed period of three years. It also includes three yearly options.

The total value of the contract with options is estimated at NOK 1 billion ($114 million).

The contract covers crew change services with two Sikorsky S-92 helicopters, with a possibility to increase with one additional helicopter.

In connection with this procurement, Equinor and Vår Energi have entered into a cooperation agreement and will share capacity on one of the helicopters.

“We have good experience of cooperation with Vår Energi on joint procurement of helicopter services. The cooperation contributes to efficient use of helicopter capacity and increases flexibility for both companies. It also allows for better long-term planning from the service provider”, said Peggy Krantz-Underland, Equinor’s chief procurement officer.

For Equinor, the helicopters will be used in connection with crew change services in the southern part of the North Sea, serving the fields Johan Sverdrup, Gina Krogh, Sleipner, Grane, Gudrun, Heimdal and Draupner, as well as drilling rigs in the area.

For Vår Energi the contract covers crew change services by means of one Sikorsky S-92 helicopter for its operated fields in the Balder area.

Vår Energi is currently undertaking a major investment in extending the lifetime of the Balder field in the North Sea. The field, put on stream in 1999, was originally planned to end production in 2025.

With the current upgrade, production will continue until 2045, contributing to maintaining activity at the heliport at Stavanger airport, Sola, for yet another two decades.

Steinar Mathisen, responsible for aviation on the NCS for Equinor, said: “Stavanger airport, Sola, is a cornerstone for our operations in the North Sea. About 50,000 passengers are annually transported from Sola to Equinor’s offshore installations and back”.