Ocean Installer wins North Sea contracts for development and decommissioning projects

Ocean Installer has won contracts supporting Vår Energi's Balder Next expansion and decommissioning work for TotalEnergies.
July 2, 2026
2 min read
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Why this news matters:

  • The awards position Ocean Installer across both ends of the offshore asset life cycle, supporting new production growth at Balder Next while helping operators retire aging infrastructure in the Norwegian North Sea.

  • Balder Next will add new tied-back production to the Jotun FPSO, underscoring continued investment in extending the value of existing offshore hubs.

  • The TotalEnergies decommissioning project reflects the growing scale of North Sea retirement activity, with about 1,000 metric tons of subsea infrastructure slated for removal, recycling or reuse.

 

Courtesy Ocean Installer
subsea structure is lowered into the water

A subsea structure is lowered into the water during an offshore installation campaign, highlighting a critical stage of field development or maintenance operations.

Ocean Installer has secured two North Sea contract awards that highlight growing activity across both new field developments and late-life asset management:

  1. The company will support Vår Energi's Balder Next expansion project through a fast-track SURF scope; and
  2. It will carry out subsea decommissioning work for TotalEnergies at three mature Norwegian fields.

Ocean Installer removing subsea infrastructure from three North Sea fields

TotalEnergies has commissioned Ocean Installer to support subsea equipment decommissioning at the Byggve, Skirne and Atla fields in the Norwegian North Sea.

In total, the contractor will remove about 1,000 mt of subsea infrastructure and pipelines.

The full workscope covers engineering, dredging operations and transportation of the recovered structures to shore for recycling or reuse, where possible.

Offshore activity will take place next year.

Ocean Installer secures Balder Next SURF contract from Vår Energi

Courtesy Ocean Installer
conceptual subsea field layout

A conceptual subsea field layout illustrates offshore infrastructure linking multiple seabed assets to surface facilities through an integrated network of pipelines and umbilicals.

Vår Energi has awarded Ocean Installer a fast track EPCI contract for the Balder Next New Wells project in the North Sea, with first oil targeted in 2027 followed by completion in 2028.

The seven satellite wells will be tied back to the Jotun FPSO.

Ocean Installer will manage all SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines) of the flexible flowlines and risers for the same project.

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About the Author

Jeremy Beckman
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Jeremy Beckman

Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.

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