Ithaca to use NHV helicopters for Harrier flights

Belgian helicopter services company NHV Group has been awarded a contract with Ithaca Energy to provide helicopter services in support of its upcoming drilling project at the Harrier field, in the UK North Sea. 

According to the helicopter provider’s statement on Monday, the operations are expected to start in the second quarter of 2017. Flights will depart from NHV’s base in Aberdeen to the Harrier well.

NHV said it will support this project utilizing the H175 aircraft, an Airbus Helicopter’s Super Medium type, which is specifically designed to meet evolving mission needs in the oil and gas industry.

Ithaca said earlier in January that the investment in the Harrier field development program would start during 2017. The program for the field involves drilling of a multilateral well into the two reservoir formations on the field, with the well tied back via a 7.5 kilometer pipe to an existing slot on the Stella main drill center manifold for onward export and processing of production on the FPF-1 production platform.

The oil company has already contracted an Ensco-owned jack-up rig, which is expected to arrive on location in the second quarter of this year.

The helicopter provider started operating out of Aberdeen at the beginning of 2016 and announced the opening of a new hangar, apron and passenger handling facilities last October. A third H175 helicopter will now be allocated to the Aberdeen base, allowing NHV to deliver a service which is tailored to the new customer’s requirements, NHV added.

NHV’s base manager Jamie John commented: “The award of this contract and working with a new partner strengthens NHV’s presence in Aberdeen.”