Portuguese 
Operation Conducted by Sarens Removed the Massive Topside from Its Assembly Position at the Stord Shipyard and Placed It on a Barge Before the Journey to the North Sea.
The Valhall platform reached a crucial milestone in Norway after its topside, an upper structure weighing over 17,500 tons, was maneuvered and loaded onto a barge using a setup of 580 SPMT axle lines. The work was carried out by Sarens at the Aker Solutions shipyard in Stord.
The loading process, known in the industry as load-out, was completed at the end of July 2026. Aker Solutions announced on July 31 that the structure was safely positioned on the vessel. On August 4, Sarens presented the details of the configuration used in the operation.
According to a official Sarens post, the company was responsible for both the movement within the shipyard and the loading of the structure. The company stated that the job was completed safely and on schedule.
-
Chinese J-35 Fighter’s Silver Finish Raises Concerns About Corrosion and Radar Invisibility in Salty Air
-
Rare Green Opal Discovered in Piauí’s Interior Surprises Geologists and Opens New Mining Opportunities
-
Your smartwatch might be ‘lying’ about how many calories you burned, study reveals after testing popular brands in the lab
-
Airbus to Manufacture H145 Helicopter in Brazil Post Lula-Macron Negotiations; Project Requires Initial Order of at Least 40 Units and Involves a Brazil-France Partnership Estimated at R$ 1 Billion
Valhall Platform Required 580 Axle Lines
The dimensions of the load forced Sarens to gather 580 SPMT axle lines, an acronym used to identify the self-propelled modular transporters employed in large-scale industrial operations.
These units are organized in an integrated configuration beneath the structure. The reported number of lines represents the set used to support and move the topside, not 580 independent vehicles.
Sarens classified the operation as a demonstration of planning, engineering, and collaboration among the organizations involved. The movement occurred within the Stord facilities, where the topside underwent final assembly, integration, and preparation stages.
The number of lines used in the execution was higher than initially planned. Before the operation, planning considered 560 axle lines, but reports released after completion confirmed a final configuration of 580.
The weight also appeared in various forms throughout the project. During the planning phase, the structure was estimated at approximately 17,666 tons. After the load-out, companies began describing it as a load of over 17,500 tons.
Structure Placed on a Barge in Stord
Aker Solutions confirmed the loading and attributed the load-out execution to Sarens, in close cooperation with its team at the shipyard.
According to the company, the outcome marked the conclusion of years of engineering, manufacturing, integration, and commissioning. After being removed from its position at the shipyard, the structure was transferred to a barge, initiating preparations for the offshore phase.
The land operation and boarding were completed by July 31. Therefore, the announcement made by Sarens in August does not correspond to the exact loading date. The maritime departure from Stord occurred later, as part of the transportation and installation phase in the Valhall field.
Aker Solutions is responsible for delivering the topside through the so-called Fixed Facilities Alliance, formed with operator Aker BP and ABB. The company emphasized that thousands of professionals participated in the various stages necessary to complete the structure.
New Unit Will Feature 24 Well Slots
PWP stands for Production and Wellhead Platform. The installation will be positioned at the center of the Valhall complex and connected by a bridge to the existing structures.
The official project by Aker BP plans for 24 well slots on the new platform. The development also includes an unmanned facility at Fenris, equipped with eight slots and connected to the PWP by approximately 50 kilometers of subsea infrastructure.
The company plans to drill 24 wells within the joint development, with 19 in Valhall PWP and five in Fenris. Production is expected to start in 2027.
According to Aker BP, the new reserves associated with the project are estimated at approximately 260 million barrels of oil equivalent. As this is an estimate, the actual volume recovered will depend on the development and operation of the reservoirs.
The project is also expected to extend Valhall’s activity beyond 2028. The operator estimates that the existing reserves, which will have production maintained, correspond to another 137 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Development Will Expand Gas Processing
The new structure will take on important functions as older facilities are phased out. The integration with Fenris will allow gas produced in the field to be routed to the Valhall complex.
Aker BP projects that Fenris will more than double the area’s gas processing capacity. The development will utilize the existing electricity supply system from the shore, a feature that, according to the operator, will enable reduced operational emissions.
Aker BP’s share in the Valhall PWP-Fenris investments is estimated at US$ 7 billion. The operator holds 90% of the Valhall licenses and 77.8% of the Fenris licenses.
The movement of more than 17,500 tons in Stord thus represented an intermediate step between the industrial completion of the topside and its final installation in the North Sea.
