Statoil Scoops Up Nine AHTS and Four PSVs for Work Offshore Norway

One of the vessels is the AHTS KL Sandefjord. Photo: Vard

Statoil Petroleum AS has chartered thirteen vessels, including 9 AHTS and 4 PSVs, for work offshore Norway as the company boosts its exploration activities for the first time since 2013.

According to data compiled by Norwegian shipbroker Westshore.no, Statoil Petroleum AS secured charters for the vessels on Thursday for work offshore Norway.

Earlier this month Statoil announced it would increasing exploration for the first time in years due to falling costs. The company plans about 30 exploration wells as an operator or partner in 2017, up from 23 last year, including as many as 18 wells which will be drilled off Norway. Statoil said its plans include five to seven wells in the Barents Sea, where it hasn’t explored since 2014.

Despite Statoil plans, the offshore oil services industry likely faces another tough year in 2017.

According to Westshore, there are currently 47 AHTSs and 100 PSVs still in lay-up in Norway and the UK. PSV utlization is currently at 83%, while AHTS utilization is just 35%, Westshore figures show.

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