Fossil Energy – First Steel Cut
On Thursday 2 November, Aibel together with customer Aker BP marked the start of the construction of the unmanned Munin production platform.
Construction takes place at Aibel’s yard in Thailand and in accordance with tradition, the first steel cut was marked with a solemn ceremony at the subcontractor Deeline, where the steel was blessed by Thai monks.
Munin is an unmanned gas production platform and the first installation of this type on the Norwegian shelf. The concept is developed by Equinor, while Aibel is responsible for engineering, procurement, construction, assembly and commissioning.
Aker BP is the operator for construction and operation.
“Through Munin, Aibel is contributing set a new bar for offshore developments. Munin is being built without a helicopter deck, living quarters and lifeboats. Access and visits will be accomplished through support vessels. Our priorities have been safety incorporated in the design, minimal maintenance requirements and streamlining of platform systems and functions to avoid manual operations. Starting construction on a new project is always exciting. Now we’ll get to see the physical result of several years of work,” says Aibel’s project director Erling Landsværk.
The contract is valued at NOK 7 billion for Aibel and will engage around 2,000 people distributed between Oslo, Haugesund and Thailand.
The yard in Thailand will deliver the utility module, stair towers, flare boom and deck sections to the process module. The remaining part of the process module will be built in the North Sea Hall at Aibel’s yard in Haugesund, where assembly and outfitting also takes place. The first shipment will set sail for Norway in less than a year.
The Munin topside weighs more than 8,000 tonnes. It is 62 by 42 meters and is 35 meters high. The project is expected to be completed in 2027 where the finished Munin platform will be one of three new platforms in the Yggrasil area, located between Alvheim and Oseberg in the North Sea.
