Allseas has been awarded a call-off for removal and disposal of multiple installations in the Valhall area in the North Sea in the period from 2021 to 2026.

The work under the call-off comprises the removal and disposal of the Valhall DP- PCP- and Hod topsides and jackets.

Further Aker BP have invoked the option for the removal and disposal of the Valhall QP jacket and the 2/4-G jacket on the Ekofisk field. This option was associated with the 2017 call-off for the removal and disposal of the QP topside.

All installations will be removed by the world’s largest heavy-lifting vessel Pioneering Spirit.

The awarded call-offs relate to the long term (6 yrs + 2 + 2) frame agreement for Transport, Installation and Removal (T, I&R) executed by Aker BP and Allseas in 2017.

In June 2019, the topside of the original accommodation platform at Valhall (QP) was safely removed by Pioneering Spirit. This was the first of the three original structures (QP, PCP, DP) at Valhall to be removed as part of the modernization of the Valhall field centre.

Valhall and Hod have passed one billion barrels of oil equivalents (oil, gas and NGL) produced, more than three times what was expected at the opening of the field in 1982.

«Aker BPs ambition is to revitalize the Valhall area and to produce another billion barrels from the area. A safe and efficient removal of the original structures will be an important milestone on this journey. The remaining installations at the Valhall field centre and the Flank platforms will continue to produce for many years to come,» says SVP Projects in Aker BP, Knut Sandvik.

Aker BP together with operator Equinor and other partners are pleased to announce that the North Sea Johan Sverdrup field expects to reach plateau production for the first phase in May. Due to higher plant capacity, plateau production will increase from around 440,000 barrels of oil per day to around 470,000 barrels per day.

Plateau production was previously expected to be reached during the summer. At the end of March, daily production had already exceeded 430,000 barrels of oil.

The Johan Sverdrup field came on stream on 5 October last year, more than two months ahead of the original schedule and NOK 40 billion below the original estimate for development and operation (PDO August 2015).

The break-even price for the full-field development is below USD 20 per barrel, and expected operating costs are below USD 2 per barrel.

Including the increased phase 1 plateau production, Johan Sverdrup will produce up to 690,000 barrels of oil per day at peak, scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Expected recoverable reserves in the field are 2.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Each barrel of oil generates less than 0.7 kg of CO2 emissions, compared to the global average of 18 kg of CO2 per barrel. This result is mainly due to electrification of the Johan Sverdrup field.

Aker BP and Framo have entered into a long-term contract for seawater lift pumps where compensation is directly linked to facility uptime. This is an important step in the modernization of the Norwegian shelf.

Trond Petter Abrahamsen, Director in Framo Services and Kjetel Digre, head of operations and field development in Aker BP. Photo credit: Lars Petter Larsen/Framo.

In 2018, the two companies and Cognite, a global AI software company enabling the full-scale digital transformation of heavy-asset industries, embarked upon a digital pilot effort for predictive maintenance of the seawater lift pumps on the Aker BP-operated Ivar Aasen field. The pilot has been a resounding success. Therefore, on Thursday, 5 March 2020, the companies signed a new maintenance contract which covers all of the five field centers where Aker BP is the operator.

The new smart contract has a duration of six years, with an option for an additional six years. This is a continuation of the pilot contract signed by Aker BP, pump supplier Framo and technology company Cognite during ONS in 2018.

This marks a milestone as Aker BP and pump supplier Framo are now taking the digital pilot work a step further to a long-term collaboration through Aker BP’s smart contract concept. Smart contracts are performance-based model agreements, where compensation is determined by the systems’ reliability and performance.

Since the first smart contract was signed a year and a half ago, large volumes of data have been sent back to the mainland. This became the start of an entirely new collaboration where Aker BP, Framo and Cognite have worked together in a joint project team.

Digital boards have now been developed based on sensor data from Cognite Data Fusion (CDF) and algorithms from Framo. A dedicated incentive model has been negotiated around these elements.

FACTS

Aker BP

Aker BP is a fully-fledged E&P company with exploration, development and production activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Measured in production, Aker BP is one of the largest independent oil companies in Europe. Aker BP has a balanced portfolio and is the operator of the Valhall, Ula, Ivar Aasen, Alvheim and Skarv field hubs. The company is headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo and has offices in Stavanger, Trondheim, Harstad and Sandnessjøen. The company has a total of appr 1700 employees.

Framo

Established in 1938 and is currently one of the world’s foremost suppliers of high-quality pump systems to both the global shipping and offshore industries. The company has a total of 1200 employees and has its headquarters at Askøy outside Bergen, along with eight branch offices. The supplier has local production of equipment at three different factories in the Bergen area.  www.framo.com

Cognite

Cognite is a global industrial AI software-as-a-service (SaaS) company supporting the full-scale digital transformation of heavy-asset industries around the world. Their key product, Cognite Data Fusion (CDF), empowers companies with contextualized OT/IT data to drive industrial applications that increase safety, sustainability, and efficiency, and drive revenue.

Aker BP and Cognite today announced a strategic initiative to explore how robotics systems can be used to make offshore operations safer, more efficient and more sustainable.

Cognite, a global industrial AI software-as-a-service (SaaS) company and Aker BP will do several tests using robots and drones on the Aker BP operated Skarv installation in the Norwegian Sea during 2020.

The robotics systems will be tested to gauge their performance in autonomous inspection, high-quality data capture, and automatic report generation. Tasks may include aerial and underwater inspections, responding to leaks, performing work that takes humans out of harm’s way, and providing onshore operators with telepresence on offshore installations.

Among the robots involved in the initiative is Spot, the quadruped robot developed by Boston Dynamics. Cognite and Aker BP have tested Spot’s mobility in simulated oil and gas environments to ensure that it can access locations in these facilities too difficult to access through traditional automation.

The Spot robot was showcased at Aker BP’s Capital Markets Update 11 February 2020.

“Digitalization will be one of the differentiators between the oil companies of the world, in order to be able to deliver low cost and low emissions. Our vision is to digitalize all our operations from cradle to grave in order to increase productivity, enhance quality and improve the safety of our employees. Exploring the potential of robotics offshore underpin our digital journey”, said Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP.

“We’re excited to see innovative partners such as Cognite validating Spot’s ability to reduce risk to humans and provide value for the energy industry,” said Michael Perry, Vice President of Business Development at Boston Dynamics.

Cognite’s main software product, Cognite Data Fusion (CDF), will serve as the data infrastructure for the initiative. CDF, a cloud-based industrial data operations and intelligence platform, integrates seamlessly with existing IT and OT applications in the cloud, edge, and on-premise. CDF contextually enriches industrial data, providing an open, unified industrial data model that is easily accessible for humans and applications, enabling better analytical operations and data-driven decisions.

“The key to Aker BP and Cognite’s robotics initiative is that it combines industry-leading hardware and software. By ingesting data collected by robots into Cognite Data Fusion, Aker BP engineers will be able to see it in context with data from across the company’s operations and make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and safety,” said Dr. John Markus Lervik, CEO of Cognite.

Aker BP has entered into an agreement with PGNiG Upstream Norway AS to swap its 3.3 percent interest in the non-operated Gina Krog field and an 11.9175 percent interest in licence 127C, in exchange for a 5 percent interest and operatorship in licence 838 and a cash consideration.

Licence 838 contains the recent Shrek discovery near the Aker BP operated Skarv field. The transaction and the transfer of operatorship to Aker BP will enable an efficient development of this discovery as a tie-back to the Skarv FPSO. The licence also holds further exploration potential.

Licence 127C contains the Alve Nord discovery and the Alve NE prospect, which is also located in the Skarv area. Aker BP plans to drill an exploration well in the licence in 2020.

The transaction will provide Aker BP with a total cash consideration of up to USD 62 million, consisting of a firm payment of USD 51 million upon closing and an additional payment of USD 11 million contingent on a development of the Alve Nord discovery.
After this transaction, Aker BP will hold 35 percent interest in licence 838 and 88.0825 percent interest in licence 127C, while it will have fully divested its interest in the Gina Krog field. The effective date for the transaction is 1 January 2020.

The transaction is subject to approval by the Norwegian authorities.

Contact
Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, phone +47 91 889 889

About Aker BP
Aker BP is a fully-fledged E&P company with exploration, development and production activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Aker BP is the operator of Alvheim, Ivar Aasen, Skarv, Valhall, Hod, Ula and Tambar. The company is also a partner in the Johan Sverdrup field. Aker BP is headquartered at Fornebu, Norway, and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker ‘AKERBP’. More about Aker BP at www.akerbp.com.

This information is subject to disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Fourth quarter 2019 marked the end of a year of strong progress and value creation for Aker BP. For the first time, the company’s quarterly total income exceeded one billion dollars, driven by record high production following the successful start-up of the Johan Sverdrup field, combined with continued strong performance from other fields. The company paid a dividend of USD 187.5 million (USD 0.52 per share) in the quarter.

• Fourth quarter report
• Fourth quarter presentation

Aker BP reported total income of USD 1,003 (723) million for the fourth quarter 2019. Production cost per boe produced in the quarter amounted to USD 9.1 (13.2). For the full year, production costs were USD 12.4 (12.1) per boe, in line with previous guidance. Exploration expenses amounted to USD 85 (70) million in the quarter. For the full year, exploration spend totalled USD 501 (359) million, below the latest guidance of USD 550 million.

Profit before taxes amounted to USD 424 (143) million. Tax expense was USD 312 (186) million. Overall, the company reported a net profit of USD 112 million for the quarter.

All major field development projects progressed according to plan, and first oil from both Johan Sverdrup and Valhall Flank West was achieved during the quarter. Total capex for 2019 was USD 1,667 (1,202) million, in line with the latest guidance of USD 1.6-1.7 billion.

The Board has resolved to pay a quarterly dividend of USD 212.5 million, equivalent to USD 0.5901 per share, in February 2020.

Investor contact
Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, tel.: +47 91 889 889

Media contact
Tore Langballe, VP Communications, tel.: +47 907 77 841
Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesman, tel.: +47 402 24 217

Aker BP today presents its update to the capital markets. The strategy remains firm and the company is in an excellent position to deliver strong growth with low costs and strong environmental performance.

• Presentation: Capital Markets Update 2020

2020 guidance summary

• In 2020, Aker BP estimates a production of 205-220 thousand barrels of oil equivalents per day.
• Aker BP is investing in profitable growth, and the company estimates capital expenditure in 2020 at a level of USD 1.5 bn.
• For 2020, Aker BP is planning to participate in ten exploration and appraisal wells, and expect exploration spend of around USD 500 million.
• Abandonment spend for 2020 is estimated at USD 200 million.
• Production costs per unit are estimated to be reduced by approximately 20 percent from 2019, down to an average of around USD 10 per barrel of oil equivalents.
• Dividends are proposed at USD 850 million for 2020.

Low emissions producer

Aker BP continues to be an oil and gas producer with low carbon dioxide emissions intensity; less than half the global average, and below the average for the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Today, Aker BP announced that its emissions intensity will be further reduced to a targeted level of less than five kilograms of carbon dioxide emitted per barrel oil equivalent as from 2020.

Progressing towards a joint development of the NOAKA area

The North of Alvheim and Krafla-Askja (“NOAKA”) area consists of the discoveries Frigg Gamma Delta, Langfjellet, Frøy, Fulla, Frigg, Rind and Krafla-Askja. Gross resources in the area are estimated to be more than 500 mmboe, with further upside potential from exploration and appraisal.

Aker BP is in a good and constructive dialogue with its partners to progress a joint technical solution for developing all the resources in the NOAKA area. The NOAKA development represents significant value creation to the Norwegian society and to the license holders.

Investor contact
Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, tel.: +47 91 889 889
Lars Mattis Hanssen, Senior IR Professional, tel.: +47 994 59 460

Media contact
Tore Langballe, VP Communications, tel.: +47 907 77 841
Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesman, tel.: +47 402 24 217

The first successful “Single-Trip Multi-Frac” campaign has been executed on the Valhall field. This specific method of well stimulation has never been done offshore before.

The method significantly reduces the cost of the well because less time is needed for use of vessels and equipment.

“The traditional method takes two-three days to fracture a single zone of the reservoir. With ‘Single-Trip Multi-Frac’, we can now do two zones in a day. We also see a potential for doing this more efficiently,” says Stian Ø. Jørgensen, head of the the Well Intervention and Stimulation Alliance in Aker BP.

“The new method will make implementation of several projects possible,” says Tommy Sigmundstad, SVP Drilling and Well in Aker BP:

“It provides more flexibility; we spend less time per well, and it decreases the unit cost of the operations. In turn, this results in a reduced price for the stimulation and we can bring the well on stream earlier compared with the conventional stimulation method that has been used. Therefore, we see a substantial upside through use of this stimulation method.”

Two successful campaigns on Valhall

The Valhall field has always needed stimulation to maximise production from the wells. This is because the field consists of chalk formations with low flow rates. A stimulation vessel and coiled tubing are needed for this operation.

The actual stimulation takes place by creating fractures in the reservoir, by high pressure pumping in sand mixed with a fluid system into the reservoir. The process is called fracturing and contributes to improve flow. Several zones in the reservoir must be fractured, and with the normal method, the coiled tubing is pulled out completely for each zone – an extensive and time-consuming process.

This allows us to pump sand mixed with a fluid system into the well, while the coiled tubing remains in the hole the entire time. When one zone has been fractured, you close and move on to the next zone.

A total of four zones were stimulated using the new method during the ‘Single-Trip Multi-Frac’ campaign on the G10 well at the Valhall field centre in November. Three of the zones were stimulated on just one trip down in the well. The same method was also successfully applied on the first well on Valhall Flank West.

Valhall has produced one billion barrels since the field opened in 1982. The ambition is to produce another billion barrels.

– This method of well stimulation will be an important contribution to ensure that we achieve our ambition, says Jørgensen.

Long journey

The ‘Single-Trip Multi-Frac’ method is well-known on land, including for production of shale oil in the US. Putting this method to use in new and more complex conditions 3 500 metres down in the well was no easy task. Aker BP and its partners NCS Multistage, Stimwell Services and Schlumberger have worked almost five years to solve the challenges.

“When you want to develop pioneering technology or methods, you have to dare to fail. That’s how you finally end up with a good and proven result,” says Jørgensen.

Jørgensen says that a lot of important lessons have been learned in the process, with regards to equipment and the fluid system involved in the operation.

“The biggest challenge has been that the coiled tubing has become stuck and we have not been able to break loose. We have worked quite a lot on understanding the ‘energy regime’ in the well. We have also optimised the tool at the end of the coiled tubing and worked intensively with the fluid system to reduce the risk of getting stuck,” he says.

The challenges were resolved in an environment characterised by good cooperation, where everyone has worked together as one unified team. Jørgensen praises the team for their efforts and their tireless commitment.

“It’s been a demanding process, and the way everyone involved has cooperated and worked actively towards a common goal has been crucial in succeeding in making this important technology available for Aker BP,” says Jørgensen.

Jørgensen emphasises that Aker BP will continue to stimulate wells in the traditional manner in reservoirs where this is considered to be the best method.

Good start for new alliance

In November, Aker BP entered into an alliance for well intervention and stimulation with Stimwell Services and Schlumberger, two of the partners in the “Single-Trip Multi-Frac” project.

“Even though we have started an alliance for well intervention, it’s important that we maintain solid contact with the rest of the market. There is a lot of new technology developed within well intervention and many niche products, so we rely on continued good dialogue with the supplier side. The cooperation with NCS Multistage alongside our alliance partners is a good example of this,” Jørgensen concludes.

Aker BP, Schlumberger and Stimwell Services establish Well Intervention and Stimulation Alliance to accelerate and boost oil production.

OSLO, October 30, 2019

The 5+5 year tripartite agreement was signed by the CEOs of the three alliance partners at a venue at Aker BP’s Headquarter at Fornebu Tuesday 29 October.

Through collaboration, innovative technologies and digitization the newly formed Alliance endeavors to completely transform conventional intervention operations with clear targets of propelling hydrocarbon production on new and existing assets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The Alliance focus will span interventions operations, with Schlumberger as partner for wireline logging, perforation and well stimulation through digital slickline, coiled tubing and flowback operations on Aker BP’s fixed installations, and StimWell as partner for vessel-based stimulation services.

Digital technology is fundamentally changing the industry, and the intervention space is no exception. The Well Intervention and Stimulation Alliance collaboration model accelerate access to digitized cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, proprietary technologies, integration of data with petrotechnical expertise and digital models, to overcome challenges and realize full production potential throughout life-of-field.

Karl Johnny Hersvik, the CEO of Aker BP said:
«These are exciting times. Aker BP is committed to increase the productivity, quality, flow- and time efficiency throughout the value chain. Strategic alliance relationships are an integral part of this strategy, thus I am pleased to enter the Well Intervention and Stimulation Alliance with Schlumberger and Stimwell Services.

Multiple wells on Aker BP operated assets are on a fast-tracked schedule to be put on production adding a significant number of barrels to the Company’s total hydrocarbon output. By leveraging the combined digital horsepower from the parties, we have a unique opportunity to pave ahead and transform the well interventions space and ultimately generate value through increased oil production.»

Olivier Le Peuch, the CEO of Schlumberger added:
«This Alliance is a great example of a collaborative approach to drive customer performance by applying leading digital, subsurface technologies, and domain expertise in well intervention and stimulation operations to maximize production potential. We are committed to deploying Schlumberger’s unique team and technology performance, centered on our customer’s challenges, to drive efficiency sustainably for the benefit of our Alliance partners.»

Sami Haidar, the Managing Director of StimWell Services said:
«Through close alignment of supplier corporate objectives I am certain that this ground-breaking Alliance model will become in time the high-quality benchmark for the industry.  In addition, by facilitating a collaborative approach, drawing on the combined knowledge of each of us, it will not only undoubtably deliver higher well productivity at a lower cost but will enable us to continue to raise the bar in terms of environmental best practice.»

The Well Intervention and Stimulation Alliance will host a network of personnel from the Alliance Members’ organizations, collocated at Aker BP offices in Jåttåvågen in Stavanger utilising a brand-new state-of-the-art Onshore Collaboration Centre, fully enabled for bidirectional data live feed with the offshore operations for 24/7 real-time support and decision making.

For further information, contact:

Ole-Johan Faret
Press Spokesman
AkerBP
+ 47 402 24 217
ole.johan.faret@akerbp.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]