A new Statoil operations centre which was opened today, 13 December, at Harstad in northern Norway incorporates technology for more efficient work processes.
This facility will be used to support production drilling on the Norne field in the Norwegian Sea and exploration work in the far north.
The Arctic Operations Centre allows personnel to work more closely together across disciplines, physical distances and organisational boundaries.
That in turn makes it possible to utilise expertise in Statoil regardless of its location.
The group’s ambition is to be a leader for integrated operations by the end of 2006, says Rune Espedal, who heads the corporate initiative in this area.
“Our Harstad centre isn’t primarily about new technology, but more efficient work processes. Forward-looking solutions and opportunities contribute here, and will strengthen our operations in the far north.”
Statoil has created such facilities in several areas, both on land and at sea.
While attention in 2005 has focused primarily on integrating operations on the Norwegian continental shelf, a number of initiatives have been taken internationally.
Some of these measures relate to the sub-surface, while others focus on operation and maintenance.
The aim is better and faster decisions and more efficient exploration development and operation with oil and gas fields.
Terje Overvik, executive vice president for Exploration & Production Norway, undertook the official opening of the Arctic Operations Centre.
This ceremony was conducted simultaneously at three different sites – head office in Stavanger, where Mr Overvik was located, the Harstad office and Stena Don in the Norwegian Sea.
Representatives from the Norne operations team and the exploration department were present on land, while the drilling team attended on the rig.
Mr Overvik also joined a discussion between the drilling management on Stena Don and the operations management in Harstad.
“This is a good example of a work process where the new centre makes it possible to exchange information and provide support between land and sea in a new way,” says Mr Overvik.