NOV to Provide Flexible Pipes for Balder Field

NOV Flexibles and Ocean Installer have signed a contract for the supply of flexible pipes and ancillaries for the redevelopment of the Vår Energi-operated Balder field on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The contract covers more than 90 km of flexible pipe systems, including 10 dynamic risers, five midwater arches, and other riser accessories.

The project will be delivered with campaign releases between 2020 and 2022, making it the largest delivery for the North Sea in the history of the Flexibles group, the company noted.

“This is a significant award for NOV and the largest North Sea project in our history,” said Michael Hart, president, Subsea Production Systems. “Throughout the history of the group, the North Sea has always been a key area of focus and commitment. For more than 20 years we have set many firsts and delivered a grand total of more than 210 km of flexible pipes for installation offshore Norway. NOV would like to thank Vår Energi and Ocean Installer for their confidence in our ability to contribute to the success of the Balder Future project.”

Håvard Strand, chief operating officer at Ocean Installer added, “Ocean Installer is pleased to place such a significant subcontract with Flexibles. This is a complex delivery and critical to the overall success of the Balder Future project. We look forward to working in close cooperation with NOV over the coming years to successfully and safely deliver this project.”

The Balder field is located in PL 001 on the Utsira High in the North Sea. The field is developed with a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) and several subsea production systems.

Production started in 1999, and the plan is to extend production in the area towards 2045.