The following video shows the load out, sail away and offshore installation of the Statoil-operated Gudrun platform deck.
The facility sailed away from the yard in Haugesund on July 17, and approximately 24 hours later, the deck had been lifted into place on the steel jacket in the North Sea.
Ståle Nordal, Statoil Project Manager, Gudrun facilities, couldn’t hide his delight with the project during the sail away ceremony: “If possible, my smile would be even wider, it feels very good.
The field development is on track to cost around NOK 2 billion less than the original investment framework of NOK 21 billion. First oil is expected to flow in the first quarter 2014.
Trond Ove Lerøy , Construction Manager at Statoil, said: “It’s beautiful. She’s going to stay in the ocean for 20 years. It’s a goof feeling and something we’ve looked forward to.”
Companies working with the “Tough Lady”
The decking contract (engineering work, construction and procurement) was awarded to Aibel.
The engineering work was carried out in Norway and Singapore. Two of the deck modules were constructed at Aibel’s shipyard in Thailand and one at the shipyard in Haugesund, with supplies from Poland.
The deck was also connected in Haugesund. The helicopter deck came from China and the living quarters were supplied by Apply Leirvik.
The steel undercarriage, which has already been ready at sea for nearly two years, was supplied by Kværner Verdal. Transport and installation were performed by the Italian company Saipem.
Trond Steinar Nilsen , Mechanic, Gudrun facilites, said: “She has been a tough lady, and a challenge to work with, this is a great moment for us.”