Aker BP extended the charter of the Safe Zephyrus semisubmersible accommodation vessel at the Ivar Aasen project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

The 10-day option extends on site operations through January 2017 and has a total value of about US$1.7 million.

The Ivar Aasen development is about 175km west of Karmøy in Rogaland county, Norway.

The field has been developed using a production, drilling and accommodation facility on a steel jacket and a jackup facility for well drilling and completion. Back in August, production at Ivar Aasen was expected to begin in Q4 this year.

The Safe Zephyrus isbeing used to accommodate staff during the completion and start-up phase.

Safe Zephyrus is a type GVA 3000E and was supplied by Jurong Shipyard, Singapore, in 2015. The facility has a capacity of 450 persons in individual cabins. It is owned and operated by Prosafe, is registered in Singapore and classified by DNV GL.

The Ivar Aasen field is west of the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea and contains about 204 MMboe, in five blocks: PL 001B, 028B, 242, 338 and 547; and three deposits: Ivar Aasen, West Cable and Hanz.

The economic life of the Ivar Aasen field could be 20 years, depending on oil prices and production trends.

Source: www.reuters.com