Construction under way on Johan Castberg topsides

Kvaerner has cut first steel for the topsides of the Johan Castberg FPSO, commissioned by operator Equinor.

“Johan Castberg is an important project for Kvaerner and the Norwegian supplier industry because it enables us to further develop our expertise in constructing floating production vessels, which is expected to be the preferred platform type for future developments in the Barents Sea,” said Karl-Petter Løken, CEO of Kværner.

Equinor contracted the company this February to fabricate the topsides modules and to integrate them with the vessel’s hull.

Most of the modules will be produced by Norwegian yards. Kvaerner’s facility at Stord will fabricate the module for gas injection, the re-compressor and for separation, with its site in Verdal constructing the seawater handling module and the main pipe rack.

As subcontractor to Kvaerner, Aker Solutions’ yards in Egersund and Sandnessjøen are responsible for two of the modules and another for the FPSO’s flare boom.

The hull, including living quarter, should be delivered to Stord during the fall of 2020.

Here a NOK-370 million (US$43.3-million) investment is under way which includes a new deep-water quay and an extension of the crane lane for what is claimed to be northern Europe’s largest crane (at Stord).

“This investment will improve Kvaerner’s competitiveness for project execution in general, but especially also for fabrication and assembly of floating platforms such as FPSOs,” Mr Løken said.

“We can develop and create thousands of jobs across the country when we have a competitive edge on such projects,” he added.

Source: Offshore Magazine