Dvalin Jobs Awarded, Norway Strike Threat

Hamburg-based independent DEA announced October 4 it has awarded contracts to Norwegian contractors Aker Solutions and Aibel worth a total value of €530mn ($592mn) for modules and offshore integration at the Heidrun platform that relate to its development of the Dvalin field in the Norwegian Sea. 

“These contracts are a major step in our effort on getting the Dvalin field developed,” said Hans-Hermann Andreae, DEA Norge’s managing director.

The 300 metric ton subsea template for Dvalin and the umbilical connected to Heidrun will be built by Aker Solutions. The two new modules at the Heidrun platform, one 4,000 tons module for gas treatment and one 400 tons injection system, will be built by Aibel. These topside modifications for tie-in of Dvalin to Heidrun will be planned, executed and operated by Statoil. Russian-owned DEA announced it had submitted its €1.1bn (Nkr 10bn) Dvalin (formerly called Zidane) development plan to Norwegian authorities on October 3.

Artist's impression of the Dvalin development in the Norwegian Sea (Photo credit: DEA)

Norwegian trade union SAFE meanwhile has said that 338 of its members will down tools at the Melkoya (Snohvit LNG), Nyhamna (Ormen Lange, and from 2020 Dvalin gas) and Slagen terminals from midnight on Oct.6 if talks to resolve a wage dispute starting 10am that morning with employers fail. SAFE says that for some of its members the proposal on the table would lead to a real wage fall for their third year in a row. Norwegian drilling contractor employees belonging to a different trade union went on a separate one-day strike two weeks ago.  

Mark Smedley