Norway

Equinor has chosen four suppliers for inspection services on all offshore installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and onshore plants in Norway. The frame agreements, estimated at $383 million, are scheduled to be signed soon.

Offshore facilities are typically powered from onsite gas turbines but efforts to become “carbon efficient” are pushing oil and gas companies toward an onshore alternative.

As part of the $11-million deal, Kongsberg will establish a dynamic virtual representation of the plant, which serves as a gas processing and export hub for the Shell-operated Ormen Lange in the Norwegian North Sea.

Aker BP expects the unmanned facility, a further development of the Valhall field in the Norwegian North Sea, to recover 60 million BOE. Startup is expected sometime this fall.

The hybrid power technology cuts fuel consumption and boosts the dynamically positioned rig’s station-keeping reliability, the drilling contractor says.

The $43-million deal with Saipem will utilize a wireless underwater intervention drone and an ROV for intervention work on the Njord field in the Norwegian North Sea. Equinor said the contract is the first ever from an operator for advanced wireless drone services.

With its $4.5-billion acquisition of ExxonMobil’s remaining portfolio on the Norwegian Continental Shelf now official, Var Energi says it hopes to realize its ambitious growth plans.

ExxonMobil confirmed an exclusivity agreement with Var Energi for negotiations of a sale that could reach $4 billion, according to Reuters. If it goes through, the deal would make Var Energi the second-largest producer on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has given clearance to start up facilities at the North Sea field, which straddles the line between the UK and Norwegian sectors. Production is set to begin in September.

The Norwegian operator will increase its ownership of the giant Johan Sverdrup field before the field commences oil production this November.