Norwegian offshore safety body, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has given consent to Statoil, Gassco, and Point Resources for manned underwater operations in 2018.
Namely, Statoil signed framework agreements with Technip Norge and Subsea 7 Norway for the performance of manned underwater operations in 2018. Through a pool agreement, Point Resources and Gassco will also make use of the framework agreements.
The PSA said on Wednesday that, under the framework agreement with Technip Norge, manned underwater operations may be performed using the diving support vessels DSV Deep Arctic and LDC Technip Seahunter. The newly built DSV Deep Explorer is also planned to be used once it is completed.
Operations under the framework agreement with Subsea 7 may be performed using the diving support vessels DSV Seven Falcon, DSV Seven Atlantic, DSV Pelican, and the light diving craft LDC Seven Spray.
The consent applies to planned tasks connected with the repair of corrosion damage to caissons at Oseberg which will be performed using LDC Seven Spray.
The safety agency added that the consent also applied to undefined operational and project activities that may be required during the period, relating to the companies’ production licenses 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.
Point Resources signed a separate agreement with Subsea 7 for underwater activities at Balder, Jotun, and Ringhorne, and has applied for consent for these. The diving support vessel DSV Seven Atlantic will be used for these activities.