The Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea. (Photo: Øyvind Hagen)
The Heidrun field has been developed with a floating tension leg platform with a concrete hull and has been on stream since 1995. Oil from the field has since the start been exported via a buoy loading system consisting of two buoys and purpose-built shuttle tankers.
Morten Loktu, Statoil's head of the operations north cluster on the Norwegian continental shelf. (Photo: Marit Hommedal)
"Our ambition is to maintain Heidrun production at least until 2045," says Morten Loktu, Statoil's head of the operations north cluster on the Norwegian continental shelf. "To reach this goal we need robust systems on board and efficient and secure oil export solutions. The new storage unit will provide such an efficient and robust oil storage solution in the Heidrun area."
The unit will be built by Samsung at the world's second-largest shipyard in Geoje Island, Republic of Korea. Engineering will start immediately and the unit is expected to be on location at the Heidrun field in the first half of 2015. Statoil has also secured options to buy two additional storage units for use on other fields if required.
Anders Opedal, head of Projects in Statoil. (Photo: Øyvind Hagen)
Statoil has applied a maritime approach in the contract strategy by specifying that all systems of a maritime character should be built and operated in accordance with the classification system and maritime legislation, thus avoiding cost drivers resulting from new and unfamiliar requirements in the shipbuilding industry.
Samsung will carry out engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services and has applied its own vessel design to meet Statoil's requirements, thereby enabling cost-effective design and alignment with the shipyard's design and construction practices.