Heerema Zwijndrecht, one of the three construction yards of Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG), has entered into final clarification with a view to be awarded a key contract by BP Norway for building the Valhall Re-Development main deck.

A key contract for the Topside Fabrication and Integration for the new installation on the Valhall field is in the process of being finalised with Heerema Zwijndrecht by BP Norway. The Topside Fabrication and Integration contract covers the fabrication, integration, mechanical completion, commissioning assistance and load-out of the topsides deck. It furthermore holds an option to fabricate the 500 tonnes Solids Handling Module.

The value of the contract is estimated at Euro 118 Million and will generate approx 1.3 million man hours for the Heerema Zwijndrecht yard, where the construction will be performed. The topsides deck has a weight of 11,000 tonnes and the flare boom of 350 tonnes.

Once the fabrication engineering is completed, it is expected that the construction work will start at the end of the third quarter of 2007 and is scheduled for mechanical completion in October 2009.

“We are very proud to have been awarded one of the key contracts for fabrication of the main deck on our Heerema Zwijndrecht yard”, says Wim Matthijssen managing director of the yards Heerema Zwijndrecht and Heerema Vlissingen. “Fabrication of complex structures like this 11,000 ton weighing topside for the Valhall Re-Development project is our expertise and we are very excited to work on a deck, which will be part of the most environmental friendly fields offshore Norway”, continues Wim Matthijssen.

The Valhall Re-Development consists of a new combined living- and process installation to replace the original installations on the field. The whole field will be supplied with power from a 292 km long power cable from Lista, Norway. “This will make Valhall one of the most environmental friendly fields offshore Norway and will result in a safer an more efficient source of power supply”, according to BP.

The contract award is subject to partner deciding to proceed and Governmental approval of the Plan for Development and Operation (PDO). PDO will be submitted to the authorities at the end of first quarter 2007.