DNV GL, the international certification body which, among other things, ensures that pipelines are designed, constructed, operated and maintained in a safe, reliable and cost-effective manner, has been awarded a $4 million offshore pipelay surveillance contract by Statoil to monitor quality assurance throughout the installation campaign. The work will focus on the 480 km Polarled gas pipeline between the Aasta Hansteen field in the Norwegian Sea and the Nyhamna gas processing facility in western Norway.

“New technologies and continual development of best practise have the potential to contribute positively to the cost reduction efforts necessary to make the industry more robust. Our aim for this project is to contribute to safe cost reductions through ensuring best practice during the installation process to avoid stops and repairs, thus reducing downtime to a minimum during the costly laying process,” says Kjell Eriksson, Regional Manager – Norway, DNV GL Oil & Gas.

Further, Ericsson emphasized that "this contract award marks the continuation of a strong collaboration between DNV GL and Statoil’s Pipeline Installation segment. Integrated subsea pipeline installation, field verification and quality surveillance have been a major service field for our Stavanger office since 1997 and this is yet another example of how we contribute with our best experience to assure efficiency and quality throughout the installation process."