EWAN Drummond, who has been driving the redevelopment since 2005, describes Valhall as “technically bold” and the biggest brownfield project undertaken by BP.
“We’ve designed and built a highly automated facility that makes heavy use of exotic metallurgy and which is expected to last for 40 years. That’s longer than most projects start out on a design basis,” says Drummond.
“Then there’s the new Valhall suite we’ve built in our Stavanger office, and which is directly interfaced with the offshore side, with full round-the-clock management of production and maintenance.
“We’ve also installed a full power-from-shore scheme. It will cut environmental emissions big time and was actually a selling point in the field development plan when we lodged for project approval.
“We’ve laid 292km of cable … that’s 4,500 tonnes of copper and 1,500 tonnes of lead. That’s no mean undertaking. It’s installed, trenched and buried and will be pulled in later this year at the platform end and connected with the topsides.”
Drummond admits there has been “cost pressure”, but would not be drawn on specifics.
“We sanctioned the job at a very busy time when oil prices were high, and labour and material costs were rising, especially for exotics like titanium.
“We’ve had to manage cost pressure all the way without losing sight of the vision. However, we certainly haven’t cut any corners. We’ve been very rigorous in terms of what has been designed and built. Nothing has been downsized or left out.”
And the likely final price tag?
“That’s something that is being discussed internally,” says Valhall’s project director.
“What matters is that we finish the job on a high, and I’m not under any pressure from my management.
“BP needs the North Sea more than ever and Norway is a good place for BP’s business. We’re investing not just in Valhall, but in the big Skarv project and others besides.
“We’re working this through properly, making sure we do it safely, making sure we have a quality job and that we start up next year. What we’re particularly proud of is that we haven’t incurred any unplanned production shutdowns. For a brownfield construction project of this scale, that’s pretty much unheard of, though I don’t have a benchmark to confirm that.
“The project’s relationship with operations gives us confidence that, with the new platform now in place, hook-up operations will run well, too.
“I’m proud of what’s been achieved so far. It’s a strong story.”
When the Valhall redevelopment was launched, there were outline proposals about what to do with the original platforms, but no more than that.
However, events have moved on and, in fact, some of the original structures will remain in use for a time, at least following commissioning of the new platform.
“Our thinking has developed from what it was. We’ve committed to doing some work this year and next. We have approval from the authorities to extend the life of the quarters platform through to September 2012, plus we’ve got approval to extend the life of the production/compression platform (PCP) through to the end of 2011.
“That’s useful for us, and it’s perfectly right that that should happen. These are facilities on which we have spent a lot of money looking after.
“However, when the new (PH) platform is up and running, we will, indeed, deactivate the systems not in use, making them safe so they neither pose a risk nor require lots of attention.
“Meanwhile, we still have the Regalia, plus we’ll have the quarters platform. However, the Regalia will be changed out in November with the Safe Scandinavia.
“Safe Scandinavia will bring two benefits over the winter period … it will offer us more beds, and the fact that it is moored means we will have higher up-time.
“We’ll peak at over 600 people in the field in January/February (during hook-up). At that point, early next year, we’ll also have the accommodation on the new platform habitable.
“We’ll get started up in the second half of next year.That will mark Valhall redeveloped.
“This will be followed by a slower phase of deactivating the infrastructure that is no longer needed.”
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