Statoil awards helicopter contracts to Bristow

Norwegian oil company Statoil has awarded contracts to Bristow Norway for personnel transportation from Bergen and Florø starting on May 1, 2017.

The contracts are valued at around NOK 1 billion ($115.4M) in the 5-year fixed period. In addition, the contracts include four yearly options.

“The contract awards will strengthen the competitiveness of the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) through opening up for more efficient flight programme that will help reduce costs for the petroleum business.

“This ensures predictability in relation to long-term activities and adds value on the NCS. We look forward to further develop the cooperation with Bristow Norway, and working closely on the new contracts,” says Astrid Sørensen, Statoil’s senior vice president for joint operations support.

By combining the new contracts with the current helicopter portfolio, Statoil says it will have five permanent personnel transportation helicopters in Bergen and one in Florø from May 1, 2017, and will have flexibility to increase the capacity when needed.

Further, Statoil adds it seeks to cooperate with other operators in Florø on helicopter services.

“Since 2013 we have seen the number of passengers to the Norwegian continental shelf drop by 30 percent. Increased flexibility to adjust to changed demands has therefore been emphasised in the contract strategy,” says Jon Arnt Jacobsen, Statoil’s chief procurement officer.

Statoil uses six helicopter bases for transportation services in Norway: Sola, Bergen, Florø, Kristiansund, Brønnøysund and Hammerfest.

According to the Norwegian oil company, the helicopter types used from May 1, 2017 are S-92 and H225, S-92 mainly for transportation services, and H225 mainly for search and rescue (SAR).

Transport to Gjøa semi-sub

In a separate announcement on Monday, Engie E&P Norge said it has awarded Bristow Norway a five-year contract for helicopter transportation services from Florø in Norway to the Gjøa semi-submersible platform in the Norwegian North Sea.

According to Engie, formerly known as GDF Suez, the transportation services will be performed by a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter located in Florø and the contract starts on May 1, 2017.

Gjøa is an oil and gas field where production began in November 2010. Statoil has been the development operator, with GDF Suez, now Engie, replacing it for the production phase. Statoil remained a partner in the field with 20% stake while Engie has 30% and is the production operator.

“We are looking forward to the cooperation with Bristow, and will at the same time seek to cooperate with other operators in Florø on helicopter transportation,” says Eva Fagernes, Head of Supply Chain Management.

Offshore Energy Today Staff