Norwegian offshore constructor Aibel has put Tekla software at the heart of its work designing and manufacturing oil platforms. Aibel’s ongoing project for the massive Johan Sverdrup field is a story that moves from the tropical shipyards of Thailand to the stormy waters of the North Sea.
The Johan Sverdrup oilfield holds a special place in the history of Norway’s offshore exploration.
The discovery of the field in 2010 came as something of a surprise, as it lies in that part of the North Sea – some 140 kilometers west of Stavanger – where oil exploration began in the late 1960s. It’s an area that was long thought to have been exhausted of oil, but will now go on producing until 2050 and yield some 2.7 billion barrels. This makes Johan Sverdrup one of the largest oil fields in Norway’s history.
Named after the country’s first parliamentary prime minister, the Johan Sverdrup field began production in October 2019 led by state-owned energy company Equinor. The first phase of the project goes on until 2022 and involves four fixed-platform installations, with a fifth to be added later.
Turning challenge into opportunity
Two of Johan Sverdrup’s platforms are designed and manufactured by Norwegian company Aibel. Founded more than 130 years ago, Aibel serves the global energy industry with engineering, construction and maintenance services. The company employs some 4,000 people at engineering offices or yards in Norway, Singapore and Thailand. To date, Aibel has built or modified more than 50 platforms.
Like many operators tied to the energy industry, Aibel has faced challenges in the past when the price of oil has suddenly dropped. This volatility has led to projects getting cancelled or delayed, and fees for subcontractors falling dramatically.
