Equinor picks DeepOcean for pipeline inspections

February 28, 2024, by Zerina Maksumic

Norway-based ocean services provider DeepOcean has won a contract with Equinor for the delivery of pipeline inspection and survey scopes on the operator’s pipelines in the North Sea.

Superior Survey ROV that will perform subsea survey work. Photo credit: Siv Marit Hynne Lea.

DeepOcean’s responsibilities include pipeline inspections, seabed mapping, ad-hoc pipeline surveys, and light construction tasks. The agreement will remain in effect throughout 2024.

This is the most recent contract that represents an additional award within DeepOcean’s frame agreement with Equinor for delivering offshore survey services. DeepOcean has not revealed the value of the new contract.

“Equinor is the largest operator on the NCS and Europe’s leading energy provider through both oil and gas and renewable energy assets,” said Trond Hagland, Commercial Manager – Survey & Inspection at DeepOcean.

“We are proud to continue to support Equinor with subsea services in the North Sea. We will utilise the vessel Edda Flora with our Superior Survey ROV to perform the survey work.”

The Superior Survey ROV will perform the subsea survey work. According to DeepOcean, the vehicle has unmatched ROV survey performance, and integration with the ROV control system ensures stable and precise ROV flying capabilities, resulting in cost-effective inspection and survey deliveries.

The contract delivery will be managed from DeepOcean headquarters in Haugesund, Norway, with support from the company’s operations in Aberdeen, UK.

Earlier in February, DeepOcean announced its entrance into the Guyana market with what the firm said was its first major contract with ExxonMobil in the Americas.

Under this contract, DeepOcean will plan and carry out a range of subsea activities, including subsea construction and jumper installations, and subsea IMR work at ExxonMobil Guyana’s operations at the Stabroek Block, 120 miles (about 193 kilometers) offshore Guyana.

The news came after the company set out to acquire Btwn, as part of its ambition to grow its offering within digitalization and automation of subsea operations.