Per Harald Kongelf News

Aker BP ASA announced it has awarded frame agreements with three suppliers for the provision of platform supply vessels (PSV), in a move that aims to reorganize the value chain.The three suppliers Simon Møkster Shipping AS, Eidesvik Offshore ASA and Solstad Offshore ASA signed the agreements in Stavanger on Thursday. The duration of the frame agreements is initially for three years, with the option of two additional periods of two years each.Per Harald Kongelf, SVP Improvement at Aker BP…

Aker Solutions has secured an order from Statoil to provide a concept study for a floating production, storage and offloading facility for the Johan Castberg oil field development in the Barents Sea. The order is a call-off by Statoil on an engineering contract for Johan Castberg won by Aker Solutions in 2013. "We've worked with Statoil for two years on finding a cost-effective solution that will enable development of this strategically important oil field in northern Norway," said Per Harald Kongelf, head of Aker Solutions' Norwegian operations. The Statoil-operated Johan Castberg field is located about 240 kilometres north-west of Hammerfest.

Norwegian broadcaster NRK today reported that Aker Solutions' fabrication yard in Egersund, Norway, will be letting 1,500 temporary workers go after the new year. While it is common practice at the yard to adjust the temporary workforce to existing activity levels, no decision has been made to do so. The yard currently employs about 2,200 workers, both temporary and permanent, for work on 14 projects. Activity levels are nearly record high as several projects are at an intensive stage of work. The workload is expected to come down next year and the need for contractors will be reduced as projects are completed. This is in line with the yard's plans.

Aker Solutions says it has secured a framework agreement to provide engineering, modifications and maintenance services for BP-operated oil and gas fields offshore Norway. The contract has a period of up to two years valued at maximum NOK 1.8 billion, with options to extend the work by as many as four years. The agreement starts on June 1, 2014, following the expiration of an existing framework contract for similar services. The agreement is for work on the fields Ula, Tambar, Hod, Skarv and Valhall. The scope includes studies, maintenance and modification project work as well as preparation work for decommissioning offshore Norway.

Aker Solutions ASA and Statoil ASA have cancelled a contract for delivery of a semi-submersible rig capable of year-round well-intervention services on the Norwegian continental shelf. The companies in April 2012 agreed Aker Solutions would build the Category B (Cat B) rig and use it to provide Statoil with a range of well-intervention and drilling services for an initial eight years, starting in 2015. The technology development needed to build the rig has since proven to be considerably more demanding than initially anticipated and the parties on June 24 mutually agreed to terminate the contract with immediate effect. "Aker Solutions and Statoil have together concluded that the project can't be realized within the framework of the contract…

Jan Arve Haugan has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kvaerner. This new engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company is being established through a demerger of Aker Solutions. Kvaerner will be separate and listed on the Oslo stock exchange, most likely in July this year. Jan Arve Haugan started his professional career in the Norwegian construction company F. Selmer (now part of Skanska), and in 1991 he joined the Norwegian industrial group Norsk Hydro as chief engineer for the Oseberg field development as a key task. Since then he has had leading positions in many of Hydro's oil and gas projects and operations.

Aker Solutions announced organizational changes in its Subsea and Products & Technologies business areas. It also announced changes in the company's executive management team. The changes involve an integration of Aker Marine Contractors, Aker Well Service and Aker Geo into the Subsea business area. In combination with our ownership and cooperation with Aker Oilfield Services, the new structure will also leverage our well intervention services offering. Until now these business units have been part of the Products & Technologies business area. In addition the drilling riser business will be transferred from Subsea to the Products & Technologies business area to further strengthen our drilling solutions.