Kirkenes chosen before Murmansk as base for Shtokman-related activities
Kirkenes is this week being used for base activities in connection with drilling at the Shtokman gas-field. The Dutch company Fugro says that it is much easier for them to use Kirkenes than Murmansk as base for their operations. This Tuesday the drilling vessel Bavenit left the port of Kirkenes with course for the Russian Shtokman gas-field. The Dutch company Fugro has signed a contract with Shtokman Development Company to do test drillings around the Shtokman field. Fugro has chosen Kirkenes as their base for the activity, despite the many requests from Gazprom to use Russian ports as base for large operations on the gas-field.
– The distance to the Shtokman field is the same from Kirkenes and Murmansk, but everything is more simple and efficient from Kirkenes than from Murmansk, says technical manager Michael A. Hagens in Fugro Marine Service to local newspaper Finnmarken.
For Fugro it was an easy choice to use the port of Kirkenes. It is easier to transport people in and out from Kirkenes with the two-hour direct flight to the Norwegian capitol Oslo. The pilot services in Kirkenes are more efficient, the supply of needed goods for the operation is better, and last but not least, the customs declaration of equipment is far easier in Norway than in Russia.
The operation will last for three months and Kirkenes will function as base for the entire operation. The base activity gives income to many companies in Kirkenes. In total the local community could earn up to half a million EUR on this single operation. It will now be important for local companies and the local harbour authorities to invite more offshore companies to use Kirkenes as their base.
– It is up to us now. If we do a good job, the rumour will spread internationally and we will get more assignments in Kirkenes, says Ulf Hagen in Kirkenes Transit who has organized the base operations for Fugro.