IKM mobilizes first equipment to Snorre B and Visund

ROV operator IKM Subsea has begun mobilization of first equipment for Statoil’s Visund and Snorre B fields in the North Sea.

IKM was awarded a contract by Statoil for ROV services on the Visund and Snorre B fields in August 2016.

IKM Subsea said on Monday that the contract entails the provision of the testing and installation of an electrical, permanently seabed installed residential remotely operated vehicle (RROV).

The deal has a duration of 10 years firm and the contract value of up to NOK 750 million ($90.4 million) in total for this period. The contract between the two may be extended for a further period of 15 years.

The system would interface with the company’s onshore control center (OCC) via Tampnet, a dedicated fiber-based network system for the platforms in question. The systems are also designed to operate on the 4G mobile broadband system.

Ben Pollard, managing director at IKM Subsea, said: “We are proud that Statoil has given IKM the thrust and opportunity to deliver ROV service in the form of an RROV system capable of being controlled from an onshore control center.”

The Merlin UCV (ultra-compact vehicle) work class ROV will be used to supply the residential capacity and communication links needed to support the project. The RROV is capable of continuous subsea operations as required, while IKM, Statoil, and third party suppliers maintain continuous, uninterrupted control from its OCC at Bryne.

Jan Vegard Hestnes, operations director at IKM Subsea, said: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached a stage where the first equipment for Snorre B and Visund is now complete, and mobilization to the field has started.

“The complete package will be in place by the second quarter of 2017. The system has been thoroughly tested in a newly installed test tank located at Bryne in Norway. The OCC is also under construction at Bryne, and the whole system is prepared to be completed by Q2 2017.”