Energy companies explained their long-term offshore support vessels (OSV) requirements at Riviera Maritime Media’s Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference, in London, UK, 8 February
In a panel debate, Equinor manager for marine operations Morten Sundt described partnering with vessel owners to reduce emissions in offshore logistics as it seeks to renew the chartered fleet.
Equinor, Norway’s state-run energy group, charters 40-45 vessels to supply fixed and floating production and drilling assets in the North, Norwegian and Barents seas, with an average 10,000 vessel calls offshore per year using platform supply vessels (PSVs) owned by Norwegian and international operators.
Equinor does not own vessels itself, but working with vessel owners, it has reduced CO2 emissions by 46% since 2005 through logistics and vessel optimisation, deploying batteries on board and testing low-emissions fuels, such as LNG.
Mr Sundt said newbuild PSVs will be required to rejuvenate the chartered fleet as existing vessels are ageing and becoming less efficient.
However, it is still unclear which technologies and fuels will be placed on board these new ships, but he is certain Equinor will need to work with owners as partners.
“Zero emissions is a priority and we are accelerating and transforming,” said Mr Sundt. “We are looking at all vessels in the chartered fleet and we have tenders in the market.”
Equinor is looking to owners to invest in newbuild PSVs using alternative fuels such as ammonia, with batteries and shore-power connections to minimise emissions.
“We need to collaborate closely with industry on vessel technology, with longer contracts and relationships,” Mr Sundt said. “We are keeping an open mind, considering suggestions from industry and using collaboration going forward.”
A more sustainable contracting environment may develop with carbon-friendly contracts. “In today’s world, these would contain risk sharing aspects, where fuel savings would be shared with owners and the crews, as they are the ones making these savings,” Mr Sundt said.
Harbour Energy logistics manager Nicholas Pirie expects the OSVs it books on long-term charters to use technology to reduce emissions. The Aberdeen, Scotland-headquartered energy producer requires OSVs to supply fixed platforms and field decommissioning activities in the UK.
“We offer long-term charters to partner with vessel owners and look at technology on these vessels,” said Mr Pirie during the panel debate.
Vessels are able to use shore power in Scottish ports and some have batteries for peak shaving during dynamic positioning, but there are no dual-fuel ships on charter. But Harbour would consider biofuels if supply chain issues can be overcome.
Mr Pirie said there are challenges using hybrid propulsion on PSVs. From its experience, it found adverse weather conditions in the North Sea and changing cargo requirements reduce the savings from using batteries on vessels.
“Weather can mean vessels are not able to do peak shaving and are drawing more power from engines,” he said. “We are working with owners to understand and learn from experiences.”
Southern Atlantic
Navitas Petroleum development and production logistics manager Tom Campbell talked about the company’s vessel requirements to support the development of the Sea Lion field offshore the Falkland Islands, where a network of subsea infrastructure will be connected to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) for first oil in 2026.
“We will start chartering vessels in Q4 2025,” said Mr Campbell. These will support a harsh-environment semi-submersible drilling rig, which will be contracted to drill the development wells on this project.
Mr Campbell said there will be two- or three-year vessel charters, and perhaps contracts lasting up to 11 years. Operating offshore the Falklands can be challenging, although the environment is similar to the central North Sea.
“There are strong metocean conditions, so vessels need significant horse power,” he explained. “It is remote, with a lack of infrastructure and we will need to mobilise vessels there on long-term charters.”
Riviera Maritime Media’s OSJ Conference, Americas, part of the annual global OSJ Conference series, returns to Houston in June 2024. This two-day event will bring together the OSV Community to explore emerging opportunities in the resurgent regional offshore energy sector, including traditional oil, gas, and wind.
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