Key suppliers during the construction of Gullfaks
The construction of the Gullfaks platforms involved a wide range of companies. Most of the key deliveries and production were carried out by Norwegian companies. The final report on the development of the three Gullfaks platforms showed that 80 percent of all deliveries were carried out by Norwegian companies.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Statoil. (1990, November). Gullfaks: glimses from the history of an all-Norwegian field. Stavanger. https://www.nb.no/items/c5329a04020d962eca1e75da16da5f9c?page=0&searchText=Gullfaks
Main Components of a Platform
The construction of a platform can broadly be divided into two main components: the substructure and the deck.
- The concrete substructures for all three Gullfaks platforms were built in Hinnavågen and Vats by Norwegian Contractors (NC). (Large parts of the substructure for Gullfaks C were built in Vats.) Outfitting of the substructures involved several actors, but Moss Rosenberg Verft played a key role.
- The decks for Gullfaks A and C were built by Aker Stord, while Moss Rosenberg Verft was responsible for building the deck for Gullfaks B.
- Mating of deck and substructure took place at Stord for Gullfaks A and C, while the mating for Gullfaks B took place in Vats.
The table below shows where the two main components – the deck and the substructure – were built for each of the Gullfaks platforms, as well as where they were mated.
Modular Construction Method
Building the deck and substructure of a platform the size of Gullfaks A, B, or C was a major task that had to be divided into several smaller assignments. The suppliers were completely dependent on using subcontractors to get the job done.
When Aker Stord, for example, won the contract for the deck of Gullfaks C, this did not mean that other suppliers were sidelined. It meant that Aker had overall responsibility for completing the delivery. The company neither had the expertise nor the infrastructure to complete the deck alone.
The approach, where the deck was assembled from many more or less fully prefabricated sections (modules), enabled an efficient division of labor. Several companies could contribute, often from smaller shipyards and industrial facilities.
Norwegian Suppliers
Below is a review of some of the most important deliveries and components to the Gullfaks platforms, as well as the companies and yards responsible for them.
During the 1980s, Norway was characterized by two major companies/groups that held a special position: Aker and Kværner. In addition, Norwegian Contractors (NC) held a unique position in the construction of concrete substructures.
NC built the concrete substructures for all three Gullfaks platforms. The platforms were built during a period when the company had gained valuable experience with the Condeep concept through the construction of, among others, Beryl A (1975), Brent B (1975), Frigg CDP 1 (1975), Brent D (1976), Frigg TCP 2 (1977), Statfjord A (1977), Statfjord B (1981), and Statfjord C (1984).[REMOVE]Fotnote: Tagesen, D. (1986, 12. september). «Aker var billigst». Stavanger Aftenblad.
Aker Stord built the decks for Gullfaks A and Gullfaks C, as well as several modules, including control systems and power stations. Detailed engineering was carried out by Aker Engineering and Foster Wheeler. Gullfaks C was almost a copy of Gullfaks A, but with taller shafts (216 meters for C versus 135 meters for A). The deck, however, was relatively similar. This allowed Aker to benefit from experience gained with the A deck when building the C deck.
Moss Rosenberg Verft in Stavanger built the deck for Gullfaks B and carried out mechanical outfitting of the shafts for Gullfaks A and B. The yard also built the derrick for Gullfaks A and delivered several components to Gullfaks C.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Gjerde, K. Ø., & Nergaard, A. (2019). Getting down to it : 50 years of subsea success in Norway. Wigestrand Forlag, chapter 6.
Aker Verdal delivered modules to all Gullfaks platforms, including the water injection module for Gullfaks B, the control room and power distribution modules for Gullfaks C, and the control room, switchgear room, and compressor module for Gullfaks A.
Kværner Brug delivered the power station, compressor, and separator for Gullfaks A, as well as the gas turbine system for Gullfaks C. Kværner Brug in Egersund built the compressor module for Gullfaks C.
Several other Norwegian suppliers contributed to the construction of the Gullfaks platforms. Important examples include Leirvik Sveis, which produced the living quarters for Gullfaks A and B, and Kristiansand Mekaniske Verksted, which delivered water injection and process modules. Nordoff Sandnes was responsible for delivering the flare boom to Gullfaks A, and Ankerløkken Florø built foundations for the loading buoys. In addition, Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk was responsible for the diverless subsea wells for Gullfaks A.
Foreign Suppliers
Several foreign companies played an important role in deliveries to the Gullfaks project. The Italian company Belleli delivered wellhead modules to Gullfaks A, B, and C, while the Dutch companies Grootint and DeGroot supplied separation modules. Saipem from the United Kingdom contributed heavy lifting services, and Fabrique de Fer des Charlerol in Belgium delivered steel plates for the platforms.
For a more detailed overview, see the table below. Note that the table is not a complete overview but covers most of the major deliveries related to the construction of the platforms themselves. Deliveries made after the platforms have been in operation for some time, for example related to replacement of major components, are not included. Examples of such deliveries include new modules for Gullfaks A to increase gas reception capacity in connection with the development of Gullfaks Sør between 1996 and 1998.
The tables below show key suppliers during the construction phase of the platforms. Several important supplier companies have played significant roles in the operation of the facilities, but they are not listed here.
Gullfaks A
Gullfaks B
Gullfaks C
