Photo courtesy of Kvaerner.The world's largest floating gas production platform is being built by Kvaerner AS, Oslo, under a $1 billion contract let by Norway's Den norske stats oljeselskap AS (Statoil).
The contract is Norway's biggest offshore development deal to date and is for engineering and construction of Aasgard B semisubmersible platform, which will produce gas from the Aasgard group of fields in the Norwegian Sea.
The platform is slated for delivery on Aug. 16, 2000, to be readied for production on Oct. 1 that year. In addition to the gas semi, Aasgard development will also involve a production ship (OGJ, Aug. 19, 1996, p. 50).
Aasgard B will have capacity to produce 38 million cu m/day of rich gas and 94,000 b/d of condensate for export by pipeline. Another 41,000 b/d of crude oil will be transferred to Aasgard A production ship for processing and export, while 11 million cu m/day of gas will be reinjected.
Aasgard B's hull will measure 96 m by 115 m and weigh 17,000 metric tons. It will consist of a ring pontoon with six columns to support topsides.
The topsides will weigh 28,000 tons, including processing plant and quarters. The platform will be placed in 300 m of water and moored with 16 lines and anchors. The mooring lines will each be 1,400 m long and weigh 400 metric tons.
Copyright 1997 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
