Helix Energy Solutions Group has been awarded a 'Front End Engineering and Design' (FEED) contract by Norwegian producer Statoil to assist in the development of its forthcoming Category B semi-submersible well intervention vessel.

The vessel will be designed for year round well intervention operations by Statoil, providing a full range of through riser heavy well intervention and light drilling techniques, including TTRD (Through Tubular Rotary Drilling), wireline, coil tubing, pumping and cementing.

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The design of the Category B service unit will be based on Helix ESG's Q4000 semi-submersible platform operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Scott Cormack, business development manager of Helix Well Ops UK in Aberdeen, said: "Statoil's decision to award Helix this contract reinforces our reputation as leading experts on well intervention processes and in the management and deployment of specialist vessels and personnel."

Helix ESG operates a fleet of specialist vessels and mobile equipment which is used to improve production output in subsea oil and gas fields and in construction, intervention and decommissioning services.

In addition to the Q4000, Helix's intervention fleet includes the light intervention and diving vessels Seawell and Well Enhancer, and operates the MSV Normand Clough via CloughHelix JV.

(GK/BMcC)