SLB and Vår Energi have announced a groundbreaking agreement that promises to significantly accelerate the development of subsea oil and gas projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The agreement, executed through SLB's OneSubsea joint venture on February 4, establishes a pre-commitment program for the delivery of standardized subsea production systems (SPS), streamlining project timelines and unlocking resources more efficiently.

This strategic initiative builds upon the existing collaborative relationship between the two companies, focusing on the implementation of standardized subsea equipment. The core of the agreement lies in the pre-emptive procurement and engineering of complete SPS packages, allowing Vår Energi to rapidly deploy these systems to any oilfield within their NCS portfolio.

The program encompasses the immediate delivery of two distinct equipment packages. The first package comprises a fully functional SPS, including four vertical subsea trees, wellheads, templates, manifolds, umbilicals, and all other essential components. This ready-to-deploy system offers Vår Energi the flexibility to quickly respond to evolving project needs and expedite production startup.

The second package focuses on the engineering and procurement of all necessary components for an identical four-well SPS. This forward-thinking approach significantly reduces lead times for subsequent project developments, as the groundwork for another complete system is already in place. By front-loading the engineering and procurement processes, Vår Energi can drastically shorten the time from final investment decision (FID) to actual production, maximizing the value of their NCS assets.

Mads Hjelmeland, CEO of SLB OneSubsea, emphasized the importance of simplification in resource development. “Simplification is key to unlocking more resources, faster, and this novel approach stems from Vår Energi’s long-term, strong commitment to our standard, configurable solutions,” Hjelmeland stated. He further highlighted the collaborative nature of the partnership, adding, “This is a significant step forward for our partnership, and we are grateful for our open, collaborative relationship with Vår that now leads to such new ways of creating mutual value for both companies.”

Both four-well equipment packages are based on SLB OneSubsea’s standard, configurable subsea platform. This standardization not only streamlines the manufacturing and deployment processes but also ensures interoperability and simplifies maintenance. The adoption of these pre-engineered solutions will enable Vår Energi to fast-track subsea developments across their NCS project pipeline, significantly reducing the time required to bring new fields online.

This agreement represents a significant advancement in subsea project execution, demonstrating a proactive approach to optimizing development timelines and maximizing resource recovery.