The Norwegian authorities are offering Aker BP ownership interest in 27 exploration licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf in the APA 2023 licensing round. For 17 of the licenses Aker BP is also granted operatorship. The award consolidates our position as the most active independent exploration company on the NCS.

“We are very pleased with the award that was announced today. It reflects our comprehensive application and gives us a foundation for maintaining our ambitious exploration strategy”, says Per Øyvind Seljebotn, SVP Exploration and Reservoir Development in Aker BP.

Aker BP is offered exploration acreage in all areas of the Norwegian continental shelf, the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.

“Our strategy is to have a portfolio of acreage that provides a good balance between exploration wells close to existing infrastructure, and wells that can lay the foundation for independent developments if we make discoveries. For some of the exploration prospects, we are particularly targeting gas. It is more important than ever that Norway produce gas to secure the energy supply to Europe”, says Seljebotn.

APA – Awards in Predefined Areas, is the annual licensing round that includes mature areas of the Norwegian continental shelf. These are areas with known geology and a relatively well-developed infrastructure with production facilities and pipelines.

The award in TFO 2023 was announced by Minister of Energy Terje Aasland at the Oil and Energy Policy Seminar in Sandefjord today. 24 companies were offered ownership interest in a total of 62 licenses.

Aker BP contributes to the establishment of a kelp cultivation plant in the sea off Frøya in Trøndelag. The plant will remove CO2 from the cycle. Already in the summer of 2024, the first kelp will be harvested.

SINTEF Ocean will build and operate the kelp plant in the sea outside Frøya in Trøndelag County. The authorities have recently granted a license for commissioning.

During the growth period, the kelp plants bind CO2 through photosynthesis. The kelp will be ready for harvesting after 6-10 months in the sea. Further it will be processed into biochar through chemical processes. Tests will also be done on whether the kelp can be deployed on the seabed in deep water for permanent storage of CO2. In this way, kelp represents a climate-positive solution that quickly helps to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

The plant is part of the Norwegian Kelp Center which will be utilized by several research projects, including the project ‘Seaweed Carbon Solutions’ which will develop and demonstrate a scalable technology for industrial kelp cultivation, with carbon capture as the main goal. The project is a collaboration between SINTEF, DNV, Equinor and Aker BP, with support from the Research Council of Norway. Recently, Wintershall Dea and Ocean Rainforest also joined as partners.

Norway’s long coastline is suitable for industrial cultivation of kelp. Calculations show that a kelp plant of only one square kilometer in size can produce 20,000 tons of kelp and by this capture 3,000 tons of CO2 annually. In addition to carbon capture, kelp and other macroalgae can be used in a variety of products such as food, animal feed, medicine, packaging, and fertilizers.

Big potential
The kelp plant outside Frøya will initially cover 200 acres and the first seedlings were recently deployed in the sea. The plan is to harvest at least 200 tons of kelp in the summer next year.
“We see great potential for this solution. 200 tons of fresh kelp will capture around 25 tons of CO2 and this is a solution that can easily be scaled up”, says senior researcher Jorunn Skjermo at SINTEF Ocean.

This week, Worley Rosenberg, Aker Solutions and Aker BP marked the first steel cut for the utility module for the new platform at the Valhall field centre, PWP. The contract secures work at the yard in Stavanger for more than 1000 people and more than 50 apprentices.

“We couldn’t get a better start for 2024. This contract secures activity in Norway and in the Stavanger region. We made a very deliberate choice in picking a solid Norwegian yard to deliver the utility module, to secure jobs and expertise in the industry in Norway for the period before the foreseen wave of projects within renewables,” says Knut Sandvik, Aker BP’s SVP Projects.

In total, the Valhall PWP (production and wellhead platform) comprises three large topside modules with a total weight of more than 15,000 tonnes. Rosenberg Worley will deliver the utility module weighing 4800 tonnes. The platform topside will be assembled at Aker Solutions Stord.

“The development is proceeding according to plan. We’re actually starting the construction work here at Rosenberg Worley a month ahead of plan, thanks to good engineering work and deliveries by everyone involved”, says Aker BP Vice President Projects Rannveig Storebø.

“We’re creating significant values alongside Worley Rosenberg. Suppliers all along the Norwegian coast are building expertise and refining technology while also delivering to profitable development projects and securing jobs,” says Rannveig Storebø. 

Operator Aker BP and licence partner Pandion are implementing a joint development in the Valhall area. The Valhall PWP-Fenris project (with PGNiG as licensee in the Fenris licence) is being delivered by the Fixed Facilities Alliance between Aker BP, Aker Solutions and ABB. The contract with Rosenberg Worley is awarded by Aker Solutions on behalf of the alliance.

“This is a major project for Worley Rosenberg, and the largest new-build we’ve done in 20 years”, says Jan Narvestad, Managing Director of Worley Rosenberg.

“It means we can keep a high activity level and maintain capacity and expertise both for the extension of ongoing projects, and onward to future projects within the renewable sector. More than 1000 of our employees will contribute on the Valhall PWP project, and at the same time 50-60 apprentices will earn their trade certificates here at Rosenberg. This isn’t just a vote of confidence for us, this assignment is important for the entire region,” says Jan Narvestad, at Worley Rosenberg. 

“At Aker Solutions, we aim to retain and develop expertise in the industry, and we’re very pleased about the high activity level the Valhall PWP module is securing in Stavanger. The apprentices contributing in this project also helps building the future of the industry. The collaboration with Rosenberg Worley is a very good example that even competitors are able to cooperate and utilise the supplier base in the best interests of the industry in Norway,” says Sturla Magnus, Aker Solution’s executive vice president, new build.

Valhall PWP-Fenris is one of the largest development projects on the Norwegian shelf over the next few years, with total investments of around NOK 50 billion. The development comprises a new production and wellhead platform (PWP) at the Valhall field centre, and an unmanned installation (UI) at Fenris located 50 km away. Fenris will be tied into Valhall through pipelines on the seabed. Production is planned to commence in 2027.

During the construction period, the Norwegian content for Valhall PWP-Fenris is estimated at more than 65 per cent. Several hundred Norwegian suppliers will contribute to this development.

The utility module will be 55 metres tall, 32 metres wide and 54 metres long, and weigh around 4800 tonnes. When finalized it will be transported by barge to Aker Solutions’ yard at Stord for installation on the topsides prior to transport to the Valhall field in the summer of 2026.

“This development highlights the fact that Valhall will continue to deliver revenues to the broader Norwegian society for several decades to come. And is  a proof that we’re delivering on the ambition of producing two billion barrels of oil equivalents from the Valhall area over its life span,” Storebø concludes.

Modifications will be made to the Ivar Aasen platform to accommodate the new Symra field which is in the development phase. The first steel components for the project have now been cut at Aibel’s yard in Haugesund.

“It is always an important milestone for a project when you go from drawings to actual production of steel components. We are very pleased to get started with the pre-fab work as planned”, says Magnus Holm-Gjerde, project manager for the developments on Utsira High.

The development project for Utsira High in the central part of the North Sea, consists of two separate tie-in projects. Symra will be connected to the Ivar Aasen platform, while Solveig Phase 2 will be connected to the Edvard Grieg platform.

Going forward Aibel in Haugesund will manufacture components for inventory before the start of installation work on the Ivar Aasen platform commences in April next year. These activities will continue in parallel until the start of production from the Symra field, and further during the installation of a new system for water injection.

The Utsira High projects comprise 93 million barrels of oil equivalent in estimated recoverable resources. Aker BP is the operator for both developments. License partners are Equinor and Sval in Symra and OMV and Wintershall Dea in Solveig.

When satellite images revealed oil on the sea surface at the Alvheim field, Aker BP reacted immediately by closing all necessary valves in order to stop the discharge. The subsequent handling of oil on the sea surface confirms that we have effective oil spill preparedness on the Norwegian shelf.

The oil spill from the Alvheim production vessel on 29 November occurred in connection with starting up the field following an unplanned production shutdown, where one well was producing. A preliminary estimate indicated a discharge of 51 m3 of oil through the produced water outlet.

The incident was reported to the authorities, and Aker BP’s emergency response organisation mobilised alongside the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO*) and the Norwegian Coastal Administration to deal with the oil on the sea surface.

*NOFO is responsible for oil spill preparedness on behalf of the operating companies on the Norwegian shelf, NOFO – Home

NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration chose to use the oil spill response measure known as mechanical degradation, where the propellers on the standby vessel Esvagt Stavanger mixed the oil down into the water column until it dissolved. Satellite and aerial surveillance measures were also initiated, in addition to the standby vessel’s oil radar.

The oil spill response measure proved to be highly effective and the oil slick was significantly reduced in size as early as the next day. The Norwegian Coastal Administration, in consultation with NOFO and Aker BP, decided to end the operation the next day, on 1 December. At this point, no oil was visible on the sea surface in satellite images and flyovers. The Norwegian Coastal Administration and NOFO have not reported that any harm has been caused to the environment (birds, fish, larvae).

“This oil spill response operation has been effective and was characterised by very good teamwork between the involved contributors,” says Ine Dolve, Aker BP’s SVP Alvheim.

“We’ve started an investigation of the incident aimed at learning and strengthening our barriers to avoid any similar incidents in the future,” Dolve adds.

Aker BP’s goal is to carry out all operations, drilling campaigns and projects with the highest possible HSE standards and without undesirable incidents.

“At the same time, we need robust and effective emergency preparedness in order to minimise consequences in the event that an undesirable incident should nevertheless occur. Our cooperation with NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration shows that the Norwegian shelf has sound and effective oil spill preparedness in place, should the need arise,” says Marit Blaasmo, Aker BP’s SVP People & Safety.

On Friday December 1st, we invited students from 2nd and 3rd grade physics from Sandvika high school to an informative day at out offices. The plan for the day was to show the pupils some of what we work on at Aker BP to make our everyday life more efficient and optimized.

Topics for the day were drone technology for use on platforms, how we use AI technology in the form of interpretational algorithms for seismic and language models, and our measures to reduce emissions on drilling rigs. We also had a visit from Aker Solutions and Cognite, who discussed the use of robots today, as well as our ambitions around the use of robots on unmanned platforms in the future.

The Lysaker office is also within walking distance of Sollerudstranda, which contains many different geological formations that show how the landscape has been affected by various geological processes over millions of years. At the end of the day, the students were given a guided tour of Sollerudstranda by geologist Jon Halvard Pedersen.

The purpose of this day is to increase understanding and interest in our industry, and to show that you can work with a lot of different subjects at Aker BP, while also having a lot of opportunities for growth and development. The students were also able to hear how the various lecturers have ended up with the position they have today, to emphasize that you are not bound to one field of study for the rest of your life.

– I feel very engaged in this because I think it is extremely important that we, as a workplace and employer, visualize to students what they can actually work with, so that they want to enter our industry. We need young people and we need new engineers of all possible varieties, and so I think that days like these are important, says Tone Rølland, Supply Chain Manager for the Alvheim projects.

Last week, Aker BP organized a Hackathon* in our offices in Fornebu. Six teams worked for 36 hours solving six challenges using coding and data facilitation: AkerAgent, FlashLiberation, LibraryChat, MaxOil, PDFinders and Wellbert. A panel of judges named three winners: Best project, Best community contribution, and People’s award.

Winner of Best Project, AkerAgent, was a chatbot with access to a number of Aker BP’s underground databases and APIs. With the same design layout as ChatGPT or Bing Chat, you could ask questions that were directly linked to Aker BP’s well data and internally developed machine learning models, and get quantitative answers about things like reservoir quality, stratigraphy, and even more involved topics like whether there were signs of hydrocarbons the area.

The winner of the People’s Prize was PDFinders. The team made better use of the invoice information we receive in PDF format from subcontractors. Today we get pages of details on invoices that are never used. Using python and several different libraries, they extracted tables from invoices in PDF format, and used this data to analyze new ways of categorizing cost.

Winner of Best community contribution was LibraryChat. The solution will make it possible to retrieve data from all Aker BP’s internal Sharepoint pages, make it searchable, and feed this information into ChatGPT, which will be able to provide detailed answers about what is published on Sharepoint.

FlashLiberation addressed phase separation into liquids and gas, which often occurs when hydrocarbons are produced and transported through pipelines. Calculations can be made for how much of the liquid will evaporate during such transportation – today this is usually carried out by third parties. The FlashLiberation project allows anyone in AkerBP to do these calculations and build new applications leveraging these calculations without the help of third parties.

MaxOil looked at how to maximize oil production by optimizing well controls using explainable and causal AI.

The Wellbert team investigated how recent advances in language models could be applied for analysing measurements taken in boreholes when exploring and producing hydrocarbons.
This paves the way for potentially leveraging the vast data we have on the NCS and building better predictive models.

– Events like this are important to use the knowledge and creativity of skilled employees to solve difficult and valuable challenges for Aker BP. We have a very strong environment for analytics and data science in Aker BP. In a Hackathon, the analysts build networks, and manage to contribute to developing more efficient ways of working in Aker BP, says Hege Fjell Urdahl, VP Digital Insight. She was also on the panel of judges during this year’s Hackathon, and is a sponsor of the Data Science environment in Aker BP.

* A Hackathon can be described as a social coding event, where computer programmers and other interested parties gather to either improve already existing software or build new software.

Aker BP has secured new financing commitments that extend beyond the company’s current Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) to November 2028, with two extension options that have the potential to further extend the final maturity to 2030.

The new RCF is supported by core existing relationship banks, with the facility closing at USD 1.8 billion following over-subscription. The new RCF will seamlessly succeed the existing facilities upon maturity in 2026, ensuring that Aker BP has further extended its maturity profile.

The transaction was led by Co-ordinators Barclays Bank Ireland and DNB Markets.

Aker BP UK Limited, a subsidiary of Aker BP, has been offered a 50 percent stake in a license area within the UK North Sea sector. The license area is located near the Norwegian border, in close proximity to the Alvheim field operated by Aker BP.

In the 33rd UK Offshore Licensing Round, DNO and Aker BP have each been offered a 50 percent interest in the license consisting of blocks 9/9f, 9/10c, 9/14c and 9/15d. DNO is offered operatorship for the license.

“The petroleum systems and plays in this region extend across the UK-Norway border. Our objective with this license is to explore the resource potential within the greater Alvheim area”, said Olav Blaich, VP Exploration at Aker BP.

The work program commitments for the offered blocks include obtaining 3D seismic data and conducting studies for the area.

Aker BP (operator) and OMV have successfully completed the acquisition of a 3D seismic survey over the Poseidon CCS licence area (licence EXL005) in the Norwegian North Sea, situated approximately 100 km off the Norwegian coast.

The seismic acquisition campaign was carried out by PGS with the vessel Ramform Atlas. Covering more than 500 km², the campaign aimed to generate high-resolution imaging of the CO₂ storage complex and to provide a baseline for monitoring of the storage integrity.

The Poseidon 3D seismic survey was safely executed within schedule and budget.

About Poseidon CCS

In March 2023, Aker BP ASA and OMV (Norge) AS were awarded the Poseidon licence (licence number EXL005) in accordance with the CO₂ Storage Regulations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The licence has a work program which includes a 3D seismic acquisition and related studies, followed by a drill-or-drop decision by May 2025 at the latest. Poseidon is a 50/50 partnership, operated by Aker BP.