Equinor Extends Prosafe Deal
Semi-submersible firm Prosafe said that it has been offered a month extension for the Safe Boreas charter contract at the Mariner project by operator Equinor."Equinor UK Limited (formerly Statoil (UK) Limited) has exercised the first of six one-month options to extend the charter of the Safe Boreas. The total value of the option is USD 6 million," said a press statement.In early August 2017, the Safe Boreas commenced a 13 month firm operational period at Mariner in the UK sector of the North Sea.
World’s First Floating Wind Farm Starts Production
The world's first offshore floating wind farm has started to deliver electricity to the Scottish grid, providing power to approximately 20,000 households. The 30MW Hywind Scotland wind farm, operated by Statoil in partnership with Masdar 25 kilometers offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was officially opened today by First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. “This marks an exciting development for renewable energy in Scotland,” First Minister Sturgeon said. “The learnings from Hywind Scotland will pave the way for new global market opportunities for floating offshore wind energy.
Statoil: UK Exploration Wells Disappoint
Statoil's exploration campaign off Britain yielded one discovery, one dry well and one non-commercial discovery this year, the company said on Monday. Results of the Mariner Segment 9 and Jock Scott wells were disappointing, while the third, a sidetrack to Statoil's Verbier well in the outer Moray Firth, proved at least 25 million barrels of oil. "Whilst the results of the other two exploration wells were disappointing, we are convinced of the remaining, high-value potential on the UK continental shelf," Jenny Morris, Statoil's vice president for UK exploration, said in a statement.
Sentinel Marine Secures Two New Contracts
Sentinel Marine said it has secured two new contracts bringing the Aberdeen-headquartered firm’s contract wins to a total of £26.4 million ($34.4 million) since January this year. The latest contract wins will provide continued employment for 72 seafarers in the North Sea. Sentinel Marine’s contract with Statoil UK Limited will see the provision of an emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) Portland Sentinel in the energy producer’s Mariner field from the beginning of August. The Portland Sentinel will join Mariner Sentinel, the latest vessel to join the Sentinel Marine fleet.
Statoil: Production Drilling Starts on Mariner
Production drilling has started on the Statoil operated Mariner field in the UK North Sea. Up to five wells will be drilled before the Mariner A platform hook up and commissioning activity starts next summer. First oil is expected to be produced from Mariner in 2018. “Predrilling enables production to reach plateau levels more quickly after the start of operations on Mariner A. The Noble Lloyd Noble, the largest jack-up rig in the world, is currently positioned over the Mariner jacket which was installed in 2015. The first production wells will be drilled through a well deck on the jacket.
Statoil Green Lights Floating Wind Farm Project
Statoil has made the final investment decision to build the world’s first floating wind farm: The Hywind pilot park offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The decision triggers investments of around NOK 2 billion, realizing a 60-70 percent cost reduction per MW from the Hywind demo project in Norway. Statoil will install a 30 MW wind turbine farm on floating structures at Buchan Deep, 25 kilometers offshore Peterhead, harnessing Scottish wind resources to provide renewable energy to the mainland. The wind farm will power around 20,000 households. Production start is expected in late 2017.
Statoil Contracts for Asco
Statoil (U.K.) Limited has on behalf of the Mariner co-venturers awarded the contracts for supply base and warehousing services for the Mariner field to Asco UK Limited. Asco is an international oilfield support services company, headquartered in Aberdeen. The supply base and warehousing facility for Mariner will be operated by Asco from Peterhead, north of Aberdeen. The scopes awarded encompass the provision of supply base services, including personnel, local transportation, marine gas oil, quayside services and a nearby warehousing facility.
Aker Solutions Post 4Q 2014 Results
*EBIT margin ex. Aker Solutions revenue rose 21 percent to NOK 9.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014 from a year earlier, helped by strong progress on major projects across the global business. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) climbed to NOK 557 million in the quarter from NOK 486 million a year earlier. The EBIT margin narrowed to 6.1 percent from 6.4 percent amid a slowdown in the Norwegian maintenance, modifications and operations (MMO) market and as some major subsea projects are still in a start-up phase. This was partly offset by strong project execution at the U.S.
Statoil Awards Mariner Contracts to UK Suppliers
Statoil (U.K.) Limited has awarded the maintenance and modification services contract for the Mariner field to Aker Solutions UK. The offshore services contract has been awarded to Stork Technical Services Limited, also based in the UK. Aker Solutions will perform the services for the Mariner field under a five-year contract, anticipated to start in August this year. Stork will commence services in January 2015, also under a five-year term. Both contracts include two 2-year extension options. The Mariner platform is currently under construction and production is scheduled to start in 2017.
UK Suppliers Win Statoil Contracts
Statoil (UK) Limited has awarded Aker Solutions UK with the maintenance and modification services contract for the Mariner field. Likewise, the offshore services contract was awarded to Stork Technical Services Limited (UK). Aker Solutions will perform the services for the Mariner field under a five-year contract, anticipated to start this August. Stork will begin its services in January 2015, also under a five-year term. Both contracts include two two-year extension options. The Mariner platform is currently under construction, with scheduled production to start in 2017.