On behalf of the Snøhvit Unit partners, Equinor has awarded Aibel a front-end engineering and design contract (FEED) for modification of the Hammerfest LNG plant in connection with the Snøhvit Future project.
The FEED contract has an estimated value of NOK 140M and will contribute with about 80 man-years for Aibel. All work under the FEED contract will be performed in Norway. The FEED work will cover two sub-projects under the Snøhvit Future development: onshore compression and Hammerfest LNG electrification.
The first sub-project involves the construction of an onshore compression station at the Hammerfest LNG plant. As the pressure in the wells on the Snøhvit field decreases, there will be a need for pressure support to maintain plateau production at the plant. The onshore compression station would be expected to contribute to an increase in the recovery factor from the Snøhvit field. Equinor and partners plan a concept select decision for the compression scope during autumn 2020.
The second sub-project is related to investigating the electrification of the Hammerfest LNG plant to minimize the Snøhvit carbon footprint. By replacing current gas turbines with power from shore, it may be possible to reduce CO2 emissions to near zero. Equinor and partners plan a concept select decision for the electrification scope at the end of 2020.
Equinor and partners are working towards two final investment decisions (FIDs) for the sub-projects in the second half of 2021.
Given FIDs and regulatory approval, Equinor and partners have the possibility to exercise for each sub-project an option for engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) that is included in the FEED contract.
The Snøhvit partners together with Aibel will use the next year to plan the work in detail to ensure it can be executed safely and efficiently.
