Norway’s oil and gas player Aker BP has confirmed the sail-away of an offshore platform topside destined for its North Sea development on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
Aker BP and its partners, Equinor and PGNiG Upstream Norway, made a final investment decision (FID) to develop the Yggdrasil area in December 2022 and submitted plans for development and operation (PDOs) to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
The operator announced the Hugin B topside sailed away from Aker Solutions’ yard in Verdal on July 6, 2026, marking the completion of an extensive portfolio of projects delivered to the Norwegian player from the yard over the past three and a half years.
These projects have created thousands of man-years and generated significant ripple effects in the region. After the Fenris jacket and pre-drilling module left Verdal in June 2024, the Valhalla PWP jacket followed a year later, before the Hugin A jacket sailed in July.
Karl Johnny HersvikCEO of Aker BP, commented: “It is simply remarkable. Since the summer of 2024, we have waved goodbye to one major project after another from Verdal. Four steel jackets and two topsides have been delivered to our developments Valhall PWP-Fenris and Yggdrasil.
“This is a powerful example of what the Norwegian supplier industry can achieve through close collaboration. I could not be prouder. When we sanctioned these projects at the end of 2022, we promised the authorities to secure activity, develop competence and prepare the industry for future value chains. We have delivered on that promise, and the yard in Verdal is a fantastic example.”
The Hugin B jacket and the Fenris topside followed in April this year, with the final topside, Hugin B, now having sailed toward the Yggdrasil area as well. The company’s overall portfolio has generated close to 3,500 man-years at the yard, with more than 130 apprentices having been involved in the projects since 2022.
Boiler DigreCEO of Aker Solutions, emphasized: “These projects are important for many reasons. They will create substantial value for Norway and deliver energy at a time when energy security is becoming increasingly important. Through closer collaboration between Aker BP and our suppliers, we have reduced construction time and enabled more efficient operations.
“In addition, the scale of these projects has made it possible to invest billions of kroner in competence development, robotics, and digital tools, strengthening our competitiveness and relevance for future projects. We are truly proud of the positive impact these projects have had on the region. It is especially rewarding to see that more than 130 apprentices have started their careers with us. They are the future of our industry.”
The Fixed Facilities Alliance between Aker BP, ABB, and Aker Solutions was tasked with delivering the Valhall PWP and Fenris platforms, while the alliance between Aker BP, Aker Solutions, and Siemens Energy was in charge of handling Hugin A and B in Yggdrasil. More than 42,000 tonnes in total have been delivered from the yard in Verdal.
Hersvik concluded: “These projects have been executed in a market characterised by high volatility and pressure across the supply chains, yet they have been delivered on time, with high quality, and safely.
“Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris are complex puzzles, and we are fully dependent on installing the different components offshore at the right time. The alliance model has been crucial to securing progress, flexibility and delivery capacity. This model will also be key to making marginal projects viable in the future.”
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