Aker BP, ExxonMobil, Gassco and Statoil have received a consent for manned underwater operations in 2017 from Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway.
Statoil has signed framework agreements with Technip Norge and Subsea 7 Norway on the performance of manned underwater operations in 2017. Through a pool agreement, ExxonMobil E&P Norge and Gassco also wish to make use of the framework agreements.
Under the framework agreement with Technip, manned underwater operations will be performed using the diving support vessel (DSV) Deep Arctic and the light diving craft (LDC) Technip Seahunter. The newly built DSV Deep Explorer is also planned to be used once it is completed in the first half of 2017. Under this consent, Statoil must notify the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway before the vessel is deployed.
Operations under the framework agreement with Subsea 7 will be performed using the DSV Seven Falcon, DSV Seven Atlantic, DSV Pelican and the LDC Seven Spray. The consent applies to defined tasks connected with the repair of corrosion damage to caissons at Oseberg Sør. This work will be performed using LDC Seven Spray.
The consent also applies to undefined operational and project activities as may be required during the period, relating to the companies’ production licences and pipeline systems. This also includes pipelines on foreign shelves that are under Norwegian jurisdiction.
The companies’ framework agreements also comprise emergency repair response for underwater installations and pipelines. The PSA is to be informed in advance if such emergency situations arise that require manned underwater operations, PSA said.
Aker BP has signed a separate agreement with Subsea 7 for underwater activities in the Alvheim area, Ula and Tambar, and has applied for consent for these. The DSV Seven Falcon and DSV Seven Atlantic will be used for these activities. In addition, the LDC Seven Spray will be used for any surface-oriented diving.
The PSA has granted the four companies consent for manned underwater operations in accordance with the applications, with the exception of one item in Statoil’s application concerning diving in the depth range of 180-225 meters. For this item, Statoil is to provide the PSA with supplementary documentation before the authorities can complete the handling of the consent application, PSA said.