Samsung to build Kristin hull

The NOK 475 million contract for the steel hull of the Kristin production floater has been awarded by operator Statoil to Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries Co.

Due to be installed on the Norwegian Sea field, this 14,000-tonne structure comprises four support columns and a ring pontoon.

It will be freighted from Samsung’s Korean yard to Aker Stord south of Bergen by 30 July 2004 for mating with the topsides. Plans call for Kristin to start production on 1 October 2005.

“Contracts worth over NOK 8 billion from a total estimated development bill of NOK 17 billion have been placed so far,” reports Nina Udnes Tronstad, operations vice president for Halten Bank South.

Orders for the riser balcony and flare tower are due to be awarded in the autumn, along with the contract for marine operations.

Kristin will have the capacity to produce 126,000 barrels of condensate and just over 18 million cubic metres of rich gas per day.

This output is due to flow via 12 subsea wells from a reservoir at a depth of almost 5,000 metres.

At 900 bar and 170°C respectively, pressure and temperature in the field are higher than in any previous development on the Norwegian continental shelf.

In addition to Statoil with 46.6 per cent, licensees in Kristin are Petoro 18.9 per cent, Norsk Hydro 12 per cent, ExxonMobil 10.5 per cent, Agip nine per cent and TotalFinaElf three per cent.