Statoil hires power giant for Johan Castberg work

Power and automation giant ABB has won a safety and automation agreement with Statoil for the Johan Castberg development in the Barents Sea offshore Norway.

ABB said on Monday it signed a project specific agreement for the Johan Castberg field and Statoil issued a first call-off from the agreement covering front-end engineering and design (FEED).

The agreement is the first for the project and includes a right to order the actual system in the event of final investment decision.

Per Erik Holsten, managing director for ABB’s oil, gas and chemical business, said: “We appreciate to be involved at such an early stage in the project. Together with Statoil, we can immediately develop standard design solutions using our 800xA safety and automation system. The innovative approach streamlines project execution, and helps reduce capital expenditure.”

Holsten pointed out that digitalization with advanced safety and automation is “vital for the safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly operation of any industrial plant and particularly oil, gas, and chemical facilities.”

He added: “Possible future condition-based and predictive maintenance, and remote monitoring and operations may further reduce exposing humans and nature to risks. At the same time, such services may decrease the operational expenditures and increase productivity.”

The FEED will be performed in close collaboration with Statoil and it is scheduled to run until the fourth quarter of 2017 when the final investment decision will take place.

The Johan Castberg field is situated approximately 100 kilometers north of the Snøhvit-field in the Barents Sea. The field development consists of the three oil discoveries Skrugard, Havis, and Drivis, with proven resources of 450 – 650 million barrels of oil.