Equinor has awarded a new subsea contract package to DeepOcean for projects spanning multiple fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
The package covers subsea activities at the Visund field in the North Sea and work linked to the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea. It also includes an option for additional tasks at the Snorre A field, also located in the North Sea.
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At Visund, DeepOcean will execute a simultaneous marine operation and production (SIMOPRO) installation contract. This entails replacing a gas export riser and an oil export riser while the facility continues production.
SIMOPRO projects involve complex marine work conducted without interrupting ongoing operations.
DeepOcean’s scope at Visund includes managing the project and engineering work onshore, as well as handling fabrication, procurement and the offshore installation itself.
The offshore phase will also cover surveying, dredging, tie-ins and pre-commissioning tasks at the site.
Last September, Equinor assigned similar SIMOPRO work at Åsgard B and Visund to DeepOcean.
DeepOcean Northern Europe region executive vice-president Olaf A. Hansen said: “Assignments of this complexity require strong coordination and robust safety planning across both the operator and our subcontractor network to secure seamless execution.
“Our proven track record on comparable projects for Equinor makes us proud to be selected again.”
For the Isflak development, DeepOcean will install a four-slot template and manifold module, as well as flowlines and a static umbilical to connect the new oil discovery to the Johan Castberg floating production storage and offloading unit in the Barents Sea.
Survey, tie-in and pre-commissioning activities are included in the scope.
The contract package also contains an option for the recovery of eight risers and umbilicals linking the underwater production area to the Snorre A production units.
DeepOcean plans to use vessels from its chartered subsea fleet for the projects, with operations taking place in water depths of 300–400m.
Offshore operations for the projects are scheduled to take place during 2027 and 2028.
Separately, Equinor has signed two contract extensions with Baker Hughes for integrated drilling and well services, alongside wireline intervention services, in the North Sea.
The multi-year agreements are aimed at supporting Equinor’s hydrocarbon production on the NCS.
Under these contracts, Baker Hughes will deliver solutions for both mature and greenfield offshore developments.
The service provider will utilise technologies including Kantori autonomous well construction and TRU-ARMS advanced reservoir mapping.
As part of the intervention contract, Baker Hughes will deliver comprehensive intervention services that integrate its surface and downhole technologies. It also includes solutions from partner companies to help extend the operational life and performance of offshore wells in the North Sea.
