September 07, 2008

Ruukki to supply suction anchors and steel plates to Aker Kværner

Rautaruukki has announced that it has signed an agreement with Aker Kværner Stord AS of Norway to supply 16 suction anchors and offshore steel plates. Ruukki will deliver the suction anchors and offshore steel plates for the oil and gas production platform in the Gjøa field, which is scheduled to come on stream in 2010.

The suction anchors and offshore steel plates will be delivered for the oil and gas production platform in the Gjøa field in the North Sea to the northwest of Bergen. Around 100 workers will be employed on the platform when it has been completed. The Gjøa field is estimated to have reserves 82 million barrels of oil and condensate and 40 billion cubic meters of gas.

Ruukki is to deliver 16 suction anchors to Aker Kværner Stord AS by the end of 2008. In addition, Ruukki will also supply offshore steel plates to Aker Kværner over a period of 18 months starting from the last quarter of 2007. The solid steel suction anchors will be 5.5 meters in diameter and nearly 20 meters in height and used to anchor the production platform to the sea bed. They will be sunk to a depth of some 360 to 380 meters and fixed to the bottom mud by vacuum. The suction anchors will be made with the help of a network of partners coordinated by Ruukki.

Mr Oskar Hauge sales manager from Ruukki Norge said that “Aker chose us because Ruukki is an experienced, reliable partner. We have earlier successfully completed many projects to schedule.”

Ruukki has previously delivered smaller suction anchors to Aker Kværner in 2004 Kristin-project.