Njord project operator Equinor ASA awarded a 10-year subsea service contract to Italy's Saipem SpA.
Under the contract, the Eni SpA affiliate will provide subsea services through the use of the wireless underwater intervention drone Hydrone-R and the remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, Hydrone-W. The fixed part of the contract amounts to around €40 million, but could be increased due to five options granting an extension of two years each.
Equinor will be the first user of the technology, according to an Oct. 2 news release from the Norwegian firm.
Hydrone-R is currently completing endurance tests and is expected to start operations during the first quarter of 2020, while Hydrone-W is targeted to be delivered in 2021, Saipem said in an Oct. 2 news release.
The work also includes inspections and interventions on the Njord subsea assets including pipeline end manifolds, flowlines, umbilicals and riser bases.
Equinor said Hydrone-R could be autonomous below Njord for months between scheduled maintenance, while Hydrone-W will be connected to the platform similar to a traditional ROV.
The technology can reduce carbon emissions, lower response time and perform operations in difficult weather conditions, Equinor said.
The Njord field stopped production in 2016 due to its platform undergoing an upgrade, with work expected to be completed by 2020. The upgrade will allow the field to produce until 2040.
