Samsung Heavy Industries has been given the assignment of building the Gjøa platform hull. The final key platform supplier is now in place.
The construction contract has a value of USD 150 million, or around NOK 900 million.
Samsung has commenced mobilisation activities with a planned fabrication start in South Korea in February 2008. Up to 1,000 people will be working on the 14,000-tonne hull structure.
The completed hull will be transported to Aker Stord, south of Bergen, Norway. Here the platform deck and accommodation module will be assembled.
Kjetel Rokseth Digre, project manager, is very pleased to have Samsung as key partner on the project.
"We have secured an extremely important delivery at an acceptable price in a demanding supplier market," Mr Digre says.
"Samsung is a recognised partner with a good understanding of the scale of the work and our technical requirements. The yard has also supplied the Kristin platform's hull on time and of the right quality."
He explains that all major contracts for the Gjøa platform are now in place. Samsung is the last of three main suppliers who will build the platform. Aker Kvaerner is responsible for the construction and assembly of the platform deck while Leirvik Module Technology is building Gjøa's living quarters.
Total Gjøa development investments are estimated at NOK 29.3 billion. Plans call for the field to come on stream in 2010.
The North Sea's Gjøa field reserves are estimated at around 40 billion standard cubic metres of gas and around 83 million barrels of oil and condensate.
Statoil is development operator for Gjøa, while Gaz de France takes over as operator when the field comes on stream. The licensees are Gaz de France with a 30% share, Petoro (30%), Statoil (20%), Shell (12%) and RWE Dea with 8%.