Statoil has, on behalf of the licence partners, decided that the Johan Castberg operation will be supported by a supply and helicopter base in Hammerfest and an operations organization in Harstad. Recruitment of offshore personnel from Finnmark county is also prioritized.

Expected to come on stream in 2022, the field will be operating for 30 years. We will invest around NOK 1.15 billion per year in operation of the field, amounting to around 1,700 man-years nationally, of which around 500 will be performed in North Norway. These are both the direct and indirect spin-offs (Agenda Kaupang).

Johan Castberg is one of the largest projects in Statoil’s portfolio yet to be developed. It will be an important contribution in further developing the northern petroleum activity.

A final investment decision regarding Johan Castberg is to be made towards the end of 2017.

The Hammerfest supply base will have an employment effect of around 30-45 man-years, and the helicopter base around 12-15 man-years. Hammerfest has already established bases and has long experience from such services, providing the most qualified and cost-effective solution.

Supporting the offshore organization and further developing the field during production, the Harstad operations organization is expected to have an employment effect of 40-45 man-years. Statoil has developed a strong specialist environment in the city based on 40 years of experience from operation in the north. Johan Castberg will benefit particularly from co-locating with the Norne and Aasta Hansteen organizations, which have some similar elements in their development concepts.

Major spin-offs during the development

Johan Castberg development costs have been calculated at close to NOK 50 billion. The national employment during the development phase has been estimated at almost 47,000 man-years, of which close to 1,800 will be in North Norway.

Statoil, together with the other operators of oil fields in the Barents Sea, are investigating the possibilities to find possible economic solutions for an oil terminal at Veidnes.

Source: www.worldoil.com