Offshore staff
OSLO -- The Norne production and storage ship could resume oil production this week, five days ahead of schedule, after a major maintenance shutdown, according to StatoilHydro.
In 40 days the company managed to replace the swivel transferring the oil stream from the pipelines to the ship. This is the first time an operation of this kind has been carried out at sea in any waters. Such operations have always been performed in a dock, the company says.
The swivel replacement was necessary to extend theNorne ship's lifetime from 2016 to 2021 and to prepare it for receiving gas and condensate from the Alve satellite field.
""After thorough testing of both old and new equipment we can conclude that everything works perfectly and the shutdown has been successful in every way," says Øystein Michelsen, StatoilHydro's head of operations north. "The reason for the good result is careful planning and a qualified and enthusiastic organization."
08/29/2008
