Norwegian energy giant hires compatriot firm for subsurface support 

Norway’s state-owned energy giant Equinor has selected compatriot company AGR, part of energy and marine consultancy ABL Group, for the provision of subsurface and field development support related to project developments of its facilities, offshore installations and onshore plants. 

As part of the long-term frame agreement, AGR will provide expertise in multidisciplinary subsurface work, including greenfield and tie-in projects, brownfield projects onshore and offshore, as well as subsurface and business consulting services.

According to the company, the objective is to provide Equinor with technology and services focusing on disciplines related to early-phase multidiscipline support for onshore and offshore facilities, and further secure capacity, flexibility, continuity, and competence.

The agreement is valid for three years, including options for extension by up to two periods of one year each (3+1+1).

The work will be delivered by AGR’s reservoir management and subsurface team, which also includes subsurface experts from Ross Offshore that ABL Group acquired earlier this year.

“Equinor is continuously evaluating new upstream oil and gas fields in addition to upgrades of existing installations and onshore plants,” said SVP Reservoir Management, Jørgen L. Jørgensen, at AGR.  

“Further, we know that Equinor is exploring activities within energy transition projects such as offshore wind, new low carbon value chains – such as blue hydrogen and ammonia, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). As part of this frame agreement, our reservoir management and subsurface team is prepared and capable of supporting all such projects.”

The two companies extended their contract for blowout and well control studies on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) at the beginning of the year. Namely, the two-year extension covers AGR offering Equinor a suite of services such as blowout contingency planning, well control emergency response, casing magnetization service, and general transient flow analyses.

AGR was also recently awarded a frame agreement with Repsol Norge, a subsidiary of Spain’s energy giant Repsol, to scout and recruit energy professionals to handle the firm’s onshore and offshore operations in the Nordic country.