Aker BP forms ‘Platform Alliance’ with main contractors

April 7, 2017
Aker BP has awarded long-term framework agreements to five suppliers covering engineering services, construction, electro/ IT/ control room systems, and transport/installation of fixed facilities offshore.

Offshore staff

LYSAKER, NorwayAker BP has awarded long-term framework agreements to five suppliers covering engineering services, construction, electro/ IT/ control room systems, and transport/installation of fixed facilities offshore.

The company says the purpose of the agreements is a more integrated project delivery model involving a “Platform Alliance” for each project.

Olav Henriksen, senior vice president, Projects, said: “Our goal is to work more efficiently alongside the suppliers, as well as to minimize the total time it takes to deliver the final product. We want to work as one integrated team and with the same incentives to reduce costs and to remove non-value added activities.”

Aker BP, Aker Solutions, and Subsea 7 developed a similar arrangement last summer when they formed their “Subsea Alliance,” which was established with Aker Solutions and Subsea 7 in 3Q 2016.

The new agreements – all running for six years, with options to extend by a further four – can be applied separately or as part of the future “Platform Alliance.”

Kvaerner’s agreement covers construction and hookup of fixed offshore platforms, including topsides and steel jacket substructures. The first project will likely be the new Valhall West Flank normally unmanned installation in the North Sea – BP and partner Hess expect to submit a development plan later this year.

Kvaerner President and CEO Jan Arve Haugan said: “Our role in the alliance means that we can leverage the expertise and capabilities from Kvaerner’s entire organizations at Stord, in Verdal, and at Fornebu.

“The agreement is also an important driver for further development of new solutions, such as Kvaerner’s Subsea on a Stick concept for small, cost-effective unmanned platforms.”

Aker Solutions will provide Aker BP with engineering and procurement services for new offshore field installations.

This covers a range of fixed facilities from small wellhead platforms to full oil and gas field centers, with work across all project phases, including early-phase studies, front-end engineering and design (FEED), detail engineering, and follow-on engineering.

Aker Solutions will mainly engage its employees in Oslo and Stavanger for these programs.

ABB and Siemens’ frame agreements relate to design, procurement, and installation of electrical, instrument, control and telecommunications systems.

Borghild Lunde, svp Oil, Gas and Chemicals for ABB in Norway, said: “This cooperation builds on well-established relations between Aker BP and ABB. We view the new collaboration as a breakthrough for more efficient project execution.

“We get involved in projects at an earlier stage, assume more responsibility, can provide integrated solutions in the concerned disciplines, and finally contribute with our digital remote monitoring services.”

Aker BP has also entered into a separate framework agreement with Heerema Marine Contractors for transport and installation of facilities offshore including a call-off for transportation and installation on Valhall West Flank.

This agreement, however, is not included in the planned alliance model.

04/07/2017