Norway: Haugesund Mayor Starts Steel Cutting Ceremony for Statoil’s Gudrun Topside

With a traditional ceremony Thursday afternoon, Aibel marked the start up of the fabrication of the Gudrun topside.

‘This is the first time Haugesund’s mayor chain has been worn over an overall,’ said mayor of Haugesund, Petter Steen.

‘It is a gesture to symbolise how important Aibel is to the local community and the whole region. It is very nice that Aibel won this large contract that gives work to so many people in this town.’

‘We have great expectations’

After his speech, the mayor pressed the button to start cutting the first steel plate for Gudrun at the yard in Haugesund. Afterwards champagne and cake were served.

Representatives from Statoil were also present.

‘We have great expectations. This is the biggest project under construction in Statoil at the moment, and you have the biggest and most important contract,’ said Statoil’s leader for offshore projects, Bård Heimset.

‘We wish you the best of luck, and are pleased to see increased activity once again at this great yard,’ he concluded.

The Gudrun topside

Statoil awarded Aibel the contract for engineering, procurement and construction of the deck for the Gudrun-platform.

The deck will be built with a process facility for partial treatment of oil and gas. The contract is worth about NOK 2,7 billion.

The fabrication of the topside is done in a cooperation between Aibel’s yards in Thailand and Haugesund.

In late april there was a first steel cut ceremony in Thailand, where four units are to be constructed. In August next year they will be transported to Haugesund to be assembled.

The Gudrun topside will be delivered to Statoil in March 2013.

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Source:Aibel , May 20, 2011;