Statoil has signed a contract with Allseas for the installation of three platform topsides on the Johan Sverdrup Field in the North Sea.

Allseas will transfer the topsides to Pioneering Spirit, the world’s largest heavy-lift vessel, before they are transported to the Johan Sverdrup Field. The vessel will install the topside on the steel jackets. The drilling platform topsides will be installed in 2018, with the processing and living quarter topsides following in 2019.

The vessel has a lifting capacity of 48,000 tons. The heaviest lift will be carried out during installation of the processing platform topside that weighs around 26,000 tons. Once the topsides have been assembled onshore they will be transported offshore for installation.

Pioneering Spirit was constructed in South Korea and is being completed in Rotterdam. This contract award is subject to the Norwegian parliament’s approval of the plan for development and operation of the Johan Sverdrup Field in 2015.