The contract covers the use of two dedicated Sikorsky S92 helicopters.All installations with helicopter flights from Stavanger will be served under this contract. Statoil's helicopter flights from Stavanger go to the Sleipner, Draupner, Volve and Glitne fields in the North Sea.
Bristow currently holds the contract for these flights, using the same type of helicopter.
Both helicopters will be upgraded to the latest standard prior to the commencement of the new contract.
"Statoil has undertaken a large-scale upgrade of our helicopter park in recent years, using the latest proven technological solutions. Well suited for offshore flights this type of helicopter will bring our employees offshore in a safe and secure manner," says Jannicke Hilland, senior vice president of joint operations on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in Statoil.
The contract duration is for five years, coupled with the possibility of three one-year options. Planned start-up is in March 2013.
"There is increasing competition within helicopter service, which we look upon as a very positive development. This deal is based on competition and secures helicopter capacity for Statoil for many years to come," says Gunn Vik, who heads up procurement for operations and maintenance in Statoil.
Statoil has contracts in effect with both Bristow Norway and CHC Norway for helicopter services on the NCS. Helicopter types S92 and Eurocopter EC225 are used for such flights from a total of six helicopter bases located on the Norwegian coast – from Hammerfest in the north to Stavanger in the south.
Source: Statoil