VIDEO: Aibel fits the final piece of Sverdrup drilling platform puzzle

Oil services company Aibel has lifted into place the final of three modules for the Statoil-operated Johan Sverdrup drilling platform in Klosterfjorden, Norway. 

The first two modules, the main support frame (MSF) and drilling support module (DSM), were assembled during the course of the weekend and early Monday morning.

Following the first two modules, the final module was lifted before midnight on Monday.

“This is the crowning glory so far and a huge milestone for the largest project in Aibel’s history. I’m very proud of all the people that have put a lot of effort, and still do, into this in order to make it a successful project, where we along the way and in the end will deliver on time and at the right quality,” says Stig Jessen, Aibel’s Project Director for the Johan Sverdrup drilling platform.

The assembly of the three platform modules in Klosterfjorden is one of the largest inshore marine operations in Norwegian history, according to Aibel’s statement.

“Through two and a half years, our own skilled team has had close collaboration with Statoil, Heerema and other involved parties to plan the operation minute by minute. That effort is now paying off in form of a safe and successful execution in accordance with our plans,” says Jessen.

The main activities of the operation have been to connect the three modules that constitute the drilling platform for the Johan Sverdrup field. The first lift was carried out early Sunday morning. The crane vessel Thialf lifted the 10,250 tons heavy MSF module, built at Aibel’s yard in Thailand, on board the integration barge.

The following day, the DSM module, weighing approx. 8,000 tons and built by Aibel in Haugesund, was lifted into place on top of the MSF. The lift of the Drilling Equipment Set (DES) from Aibel’s partner Nymo in Grimstad concluded the lifting activities and left one joined platform, which including the grillage is 147 meters tall and weighs approx. 22,000 tons.

The platform was set to begin its journey towards Aibel’s yard in Haugesund later on Tuesday and arrive on Wednesday. There it will be moored in autumn and winter, while all installations will be completed, and equipment and systems will be tested and verified. In early summer 2018, the largest platform deck ever built by Aibel will be handed over to Statoil and head for the field in the North Sea.

In addition, Aibel has been awarded the contract for hook-up of the drilling platform at the Johan Sverdrup field in summer 2018. The hook-up will involve up to 600 employees in rotation until the summer of 2019.