Aibel awarded FEED contract for Wisting production vessel topsides

Aibel has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the topsides of a production vessel for the Wisting field in the Barents Sea. The project, involving a partnership including Equinor Energy AS, Aker BP ASA, Petoro AS, and INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS, aims to develop technical solutions for deck modules.

Approximately 250 people are expected to be involved in the engineering phase. The contract includes an option for engineering, procurement, and project management (EPma) at a later stage, though the final contract for module fabrication has yet to be awarded.

Equinor’s Senior Vice President for Project Development, Trond Bokn, noted that the project is in an early stage and requires further work to ensure profitability and feasibility. If successful, the Wisting development is intended to support European energy security and generate revenue for Norwegian society over a 30-year period. The partnership plans to conduct concept selection by the end of 2026, with an investment decision targeted for late 2027.