Aker Kvaerner has over several years developed both competence and facilities to take on projects for decommissioning and removal of offshore platforms.

Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner AS, Stavanger will be the contract partner in a consortium of both Norwegian and UK companies, including Saipem UK, Shetland Decommissioning Company Ltd., Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner Ltd., Aberdeen, Aker Stord and Aker Marine Contracting.

"The new contract proves that we are recognized for the efforts we have made to develop the competence of our employees and also for developing both technology and facilities for decommissioning projects. With operations both in UK and Norway, Aker Kvaerner is well positioned to come up with a good cross border solution for Frigg. We manage the North Sea as one region," says Mr. Tore Sjursen, President of Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner AS.

"The contract for removing the installations on the Frigg Field is well aligned with our operations. As the field is partly located on the Norwegian continental shelf and partly on the UK continental shelf, we have planned to carry out the onshore dismantling activities both on the GreenHhead Base at Shetland, and at Eldøyane on Stord, Norway.

Our priority will be to ensure that the work is carried out to the highest safety and environmental standards" says Mr. Sjursen.

All topsides and steel jackets are to be removed. The detail planning of the removal operations on Frigg starts immediately. Next summer 13,000-14,000 tonnes of steel from the gas handling and compressor platform TCP2 in the Norwegian sector - and some smaller units from the Living Quarter, QP, in the UK sector, will be taken onshore.

During the period 2005 to 2008, Aker Kvaerner will remove nearly 85,000 tonnes of steel from the Frigg Field, almost 20,000 tonnes of which will be taken to Shetland for dismantling and the rest will be taken onshore at Stord. All the steel will be recycled.

In addition to the steel topsides on the TCP2 platform, DP1 and the entire drilling platform DP2 on the Norwegian sector, the contract includes all the living quarters and the steel topsides on the TP1, MCP-01 and CDP1 platforms in the UK  sector.

The large crane vessel "Saipem 7000" will play an important role during the heaviest lifting operations on the Frigg Field.

The Frigg Field, which is located 230 kilometres North West of Stavanger, has been in operation for 27 years - from September 1977 till this autumn. The Frigg gas has been exported via pipelines to Scotland.

ENDS

 

Media:
Torbjørn Andersen, SVP Group Communications, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 36, Mob: +47 928 85 542

Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, Vice President, Aker Kvaerner, Group Comms. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39

 

AKER KVÆRNER ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner span a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Power Generation and Pulp & Paper. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 4.5 billion and employs around 21,000 employees in more than 30 countries.

The Aker Kvaerner group consists of a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA.

 

Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner AS is a turnkey contractor for the on- and offshore oil and gas industry. The company is engaged in front end studies, field development with new platforms and modifications to existing platforms, maintenance, modifications and operations contracts, field decommissioning and removal. Further information is available at internet www.akerkvaerner.com. Offshore Partner has 2200 employees; 1400 engineers and administrative personnel and 800 labour. Total revenue year 2003 was 3,5 billion NOK. The head office is located in Stavanger with regional offices in Bergen and Trondheim. Offshore Partner hold two subsidiary companies, Aker Møre Montasje and Aker Inspection & Consulting.

 

Aker Stord is Aker Kvaerner's assembly yard for modules and topsides for fixed and floating oil and gas production platforms. Aker Stord is within Aker Kvaerner responsible for multi discipline and mechanical construction contracts for onshore oil and gas plants in Norway. Within decommissioning of offshore structures Aker Stord has a special responsibility for methods and execution of topsides demolition. 

 

Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner Limited is a leading provider of world-class solutions in total "life-of-field" support services to the oil and gas industry. Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner's engineering and design capability extends from front-end consultancy and field development, through modifications, maintenance and operations support, to decommissioning and removal.  The company covers all engineering disciplines, procurement, materials management and project management. Aker Kvaerner Offshore Partner Limited has some 1,500 employees and is headquartered in Aberdeen, with a regional office in Great Yarmouth.

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akerkvaerner.com