Nova Module Lifted Onto Neptune Energy’s Gjøa Platform

May 11, 2020 | Oil & Gas | Energy Facts Staff Writer | 3min

Neptune Energy and Wintershall Dea announced the successful lift of the 740-tonne topside module for the Nova development project in the Norwegian North Sea.

The world’s largest crane vessel, Heerema Marine Contractors’ Sleipnir, safely transported the topside module onto the Neptune-operated Gjøa platform in a three-hour operation.

Managing Director of Neptune Energy in Norway, Odin Estensen, said: “This impressive heavy-lift marks the beginning of a new era for the Gjøa platform.

“The Nova field adds valuable resources, prolongs the life of the platform and increases the profitability of Gjøa’s own production. Electrified with hydro power from shore, Gjøa is becoming the efficient, low-carbon hub she was designed to be.”

The Nova field is operated by Wintershall Dea. Sharing infrastructure and making use of smart subsea solutions reduces costs, improves efficiency and lowers the carbon intensity of the operations for Wintershall Dea and Neptune.

The Duva and Gjøa P1 fields, both operated by Neptune, will also be tied-back to Gjøa in the future.

Wintershall Dea Nova Project Director, Andre Hesse, said: “The close collaboration with Neptune Energy, our partners and suppliers has been a highlight of the Nova project to date.

“Construction and installation of the topside module is a critical component of the Nova project, which has been handled on time, with total professionalism and a high regard for safety. Sleipnir’s safe lift of the module onto the Gjøa platform brings us another important step closer to production start on the Nova field.”

The Nova field is being developed as a subsea tie-back, connecting two templates to the Gjøa platform. When Nova production begins in 2021, the topside module will receive the hydrocarbons from the field and provide water injection for pressure support and gas lift.

The Nova field is located about 120 kilometres northwest of Bergen and approximately 17 kilometres southwest of the Gjøa platform in the Norwegian North Sea, at a water depth of 370 metres.

Licence partners: Wintershall Dea (operator 45%), Capricorn Norge AS (a fully owned subsidiary of Sval Energi AS) (10%), ONE-Dyas Norge AS (10%), Spirit Energy Norge AS (20%) and Edison Norge AS (15%).

The Gjøa field is developed with five subsea templates tied to the Gjøa semi-submersible platform for processing and export. Production started in 2010. Oil is exported by pipeline to Mongstad and gas by pipeline to St. Fergus in the UK.

Licence partners: Neptune Energy Norge (30% and operator), Petoro AS (30%), Wintershall Dea Norge AS (28%) and OKEA (12%).