GDF SUEZ and Statoil join forces for the largest current industrial project in Norway, GDF Suez

Release Date: 2009-12-29

An oil and gas platform intended for the North Sea's Gjøa field was successfully mated today at Stord, Norway, during a complex operation conducted by Aker Solutions on behalf of development operator Statoil. Mating of the platform's hull and topside represents a milestone in one of GDF SUEZ's most important offshore Exploration & Production projects. GDF SUEZ will operate the Gjøa field in the production phase in October 2010

On Tuesday 29 December, the deck and hull of the Gjøa platform were mated in the fjord off the Stord island, Norway. The operation was successful, despite the extreme requirements for precision. The four- legged hull rose from the fjord off the coast of Stord and "pierced” the deck of the Gjøa platform, the new North-Sea giant. Four guide pins had to meet their respective slots in a deck the size of a football field, with a margin of only 25 millimetres in all directions.

Statoil is operator during the development phase of the Gjøa field. The plan is for the platform and the field to be handed over in October 2010, to GDF SUEZ E&P Norway, who will be operator during the production phase. Gjøa will be that company’s first producing operatorship on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The Gjøa field is being developed with a semi-submersible production platform and five subsea installations. This floating platform will be the first to be fully powered by electricity from the mainland, reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the environment by 210,000 tonnes every year (equivalent to 100.000 cars yearly emissions).

Constructed in South Korea, the hull was delivered to Norway in October. The transport made its way from the construction site to Stord via the Suez canal during the course of 50 days.

Discovered in 1989, the Gjøa field contains an estimated 40 billion cubic metres of gas and 82 million barrels of oil and has been part of GDF SUEZ' portfolio since 2003. In April 2010 the platform will be towed away from the yard to the field in the North Sea and production will start during the autumn.

Type:	NORMAL
Company:	GDF Suez
Country:	法国