SSCV Sleipnir installs Nova module on Neptune’s North Sea platform

Heerema’s Sleipnir, the world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessel, has transported and installed the Nova topside module on the Gjøa platform in the North Sea.

As previously reported, Sleipnir picked up the 740mT module from a barge outside Stavanger, Norway. From there, the vessel transported the module to Neptune Energy’s operated Gjøa platform and completed the installation within three hours.

The Nova module will be used for the tie-back of the Wintershall Dea operated Nova field, located about 120 kilometres northwest of Bergen, with a water depth of 370 meters.

Heerema added that this project highlighted the importance of Heerema’s Simulation Centre during project preparations where the offshore team trained for the project. Use of the centre, according to the company, minimises risks and creates a plan that replicates the project location.

Sleipnir has dual-fuel functionality allowing the vessel to run on LNG, a cleaner fuel than standard MGO. During the Nova installation, the vessel ran on LNG, reducing carbon emissions.

In a separate statement, managing director of Neptune Energy in Norway Odin Estensen said: “This impressive heavy-lift marks the beginning of a new era for the Gjøa platform.

“The Nova field adds valuable resources, prolongs the life of the platform and increases the profitability of Gjøa’s own production. Electrified with hydropower from shore, Gjøa is becoming the efficient, low-carbon hub she was designed to be”.

The Wintershall Dea-operated Nova field is located in the Norwegian North Sea, 120 kilometres northwest of Bergen. The expected recoverable reserves from the field are around 80 boe, of which the majority will be oil. The Nova field is expected to come on stream in 2021.

It is developed as a subsea tie-back connecting two templates to the Gjøa platform. Two Nova subsea templates were installed in May 2019. Wintershall Dea installed the subsea pipelines and umbilicals in August of the same year.

The German oil company began a new Nova subsea campaign this month with the installation of two manifolds in the templates on the seabed.

Wintershall Dea holds a 45 per cent share in the Nova project. Other project partners are Capricorn, Spirit Energy with 20 per cent each, and Edison Norge with the remaining 15 per cent.

Wintershall Dea Nova project director Andre Hesse stated: “The close collaboration with Neptune Energy, our partners and suppliers has been a highlight of the Nova project to date.

“Construction and installation of the topside module is a critical component of the Nova project, which has been handled on time, with total professionalism and high regard for safety.

“Sleipnir’s safe lift of the module onto the Gjøa platform brings us another important step closer to production start on the Nova field”.

It is worth noting that Sleipnir will proceed to a decommissioning project which is part of an active summer campaign.

All images courtesy of Heerema; Video courtesy of Neptune