Statoil’s North Sea Mariner platform has been successfully installed, the Norwegian operator today confirmed.
It’s the latest milestone for the North Sea development, which will unlock an additional 250million barrels of oil and is expected to produce for 30 years.
Hedda Felin, managing director Statoil Production UK said, “The safe installation of the platform and the beginning of the hook up and commissioning signals a new phase for Statoil as a UKCS operator. Mariner is an important project in Statoil’s international portfolio, and will provide jobs and create wider ripple effects in the supply chain for several decades to come.”
The huge topside infrastructure, which becomes one of largest platforms on the UKCS, was installed in nine parts. Two of the largest weighed more than 10,000 tonnes each. The topside infrastructure weighing in total 38,000 tonnes was placed on the platform jacket by the Saipem 7000 heavy lift vessel.
Work will now begin to connect and test the modules, which will require close to two million hours of work offshore and support more than 1500 jobs. During the hook up and commissioning phase, the Noble Lloyd Noble jack up rig and the Safe Boreas accommodation vessel will be located next to the Mariner platform, providing accommodation for up to 800 people during peak activity.