en.Wedoany.com Reported - Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has announced that all six vertical Christmas trees have been installed as part of the Skarv Satellite Project (SSP).

With the completion of this installation, all subsea structures for the project are now in place. According to Aker BP's first-quarter report, the start-up of the Skarv Satellite Project has been advanced to the third quarter of 2026, compared to the previously planned start-up in 2027. The development includes three gas and condensate discoveries—Alve Nord, Idun Nord, and Ørn—which will be tied back subsea to the Skarv floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) granted Aker BP start-up permits for the Alve Nord, Idun Nord, and Ørn facilities in June 2026. These three discoveries have combined recoverable resources of approximately 120 million barrels of oil equivalent, primarily gas, and will contribute about 60% of Skarv area net production for several years after start-up.

The vertical Christmas trees installed are key components of the subsea production system. Previously, Aker BP utilized a digital hydraulic control system in conjunction with vertical Christmas tree operations, achieving cost savings of approximately $4 million to $5 million per well. The total investment for the Skarv Satellite Project is estimated at approximately NOK 17 billion, with about 60% of the investment awarded to Norwegian local suppliers. Headquartered in Fornebu, Aker BP operates multiple oil and gas hubs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and is a key oil and gas exploration and production company in the region.