Important frame agreement between Gassco and Aker Kvaerner
Gassco AS is a relatively new company, established in 2001 and 100 per cent owned by the Norwegian State. The company plays a major role in the operation of the Norwegian gas transportation system, including pipelines, some gas booster platforms and terminals. Gassco's main responsibilities are daily operations, capacity management and infrastructure development. The company has established several plans for further developments of the gas infrastructure in Norway. In 2003, about 70 billion cubic meter of gas was exported from the Norwegian continental shelf. The projected gas export capacity in the future is about 100 billion cubic meter of gas. Gassco's role is to ensure that sufficient capacity is available and that the gas is exported in the most efficient way.
As part of Gassco's development as an operating company, the management has decided to establish strategic frame agreements for engineering services. The purpose of these agreements is to develop long term relations to contractors in order to secure access to competence, capacity and required engineering systems. Such cooperation will support efficient execution of smaller studies and larger projects within Gassco's areas of responibility. Gassco's head office is at Karmøy near Haugesund in the western Norway.
" This is an important and strategic frame agreement for Aker Kvaerner," says Oscar Fr. Graff, who is in charge of the new department for Gas and Onshore Solution in AK E&T. "Gassco will play an important operator role in Norway and several interesting projects are coming up. We will establish a close cooperation with Gassco to give them our best engineering support, and further develop our competence and knowledge about the Norwegian gas transportation system," Graff says.
This frame agreement contract is part of several recent contracts including onshore activities for Aker Kvaerner in Norway, such as installation contracts for Statoil at Kårstø and Melkøya, and the important contract for Norsk Hydro for the Ormen Lange Project. As part of the Aker Kvaerner Group, AK E&T can pull on the network of competence and resources from other companies both in Norway and international. Aker Kvaerner is among the leading international Contractors within Oil and Gas and has about 29,000 employees in more than 30 countries.
ENDS
For further information:
Geir Arne Drangeid, SVP Group Communications, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 913 10 458
Oscar Graff, Aker Kvaerner Engineering & Technology. Tel: +47 913 75 859
Aker Kværner ASA
is through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner") a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner spans a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Mining & Metals, Power, Pulping and Shipbuilding. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 6 billion and employs around 29,000 employees in more than 30 countries. The Aker Kvaerner group consists of many legally independent entities, constituting their own separate identities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand or trademark for most of these entities.