SLB OneSubsea Secures Lyra Field Development Contract in Norway
Global energy technology company SLB (NYSE: SLB) has announced that its OneSubsea joint venture has been awarded a contract by Aker BP to supply subsea production systems, umbilicals and associated services for the Lyra field development on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The project, previously known as Kjøttkake, represents another step in the development of offshore resources in Norway and highlights the growing role of standardized subsea technologies in improving project execution.
The contract will support Aker BP’s plans to develop the Lyra field through a subsea tieback to existing offshore infrastructure. The development strategy is designed to reduce project complexity, improve operational efficiency and accelerate the timeline toward first production. By using established subsea technology and existing facilities, the companies aim to develop the field through a streamlined approach that supports the economic recovery of offshore resources.
The award builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between Aker BP and SLB OneSubsea through Aker BP’s alliance model. Their cooperation has allowed both companies to work together from the earliest stages of project planning, including evaluating development concepts, selecting appropriate technologies and establishing an execution strategy tailored to the field’s requirements.
Rather than beginning collaboration after the development concept has been finalized, the companies have worked together throughout the initial planning stages. This approach has helped align engineering, equipment selection and project execution with Aker BP’s development priorities. The partnership also demonstrates how early supplier involvement can contribute to more efficient offshore project delivery.
Mads Hjelmeland, chief executive officer of SLB OneSubsea, said the Lyra development demonstrates the opportunities available through fast-track offshore field development. He highlighted the importance of working closely with customers from the beginning of a project to establish development strategies that reflect their operational and commercial priorities.
According to Hjelmeland, early collaboration enables the companies to identify opportunities for offshore resource development while creating solutions that support project efficiency. He added that the Lyra project demonstrates how coordinated planning and standardized technology can help accelerate the development process.
Marte Mogstad, senior vice president at Aker BP, also emphasized the importance of the alliance with SLB OneSubsea in advancing the Lyra development. She explained that the combination of close cooperation and standardized subsea technology has been central to the project’s development strategy.
Mogstad noted that the project demonstrates how the companies can make marginal offshore resources economically viable through fast-track execution. She also highlighted the development timeline, which is expected to deliver first oil within three years of discovery. This schedule illustrates the potential benefits of integrating project planning, engineering and technology delivery from the earliest stages.
Subsea Tieback Strategy to Support Lyra Development
The Lyra field will be developed as a subsea tieback connected to existing offshore infrastructure. Subsea tieback developments allow operators to connect newly discovered offshore resources to established production facilities rather than constructing entirely new standalone platforms and associated infrastructure.
This approach can reduce the amount of new infrastructure required for a project while making use of existing offshore processing and transportation capabilities. For developments involving smaller or marginal discoveries, connecting to existing facilities can help improve project economics and support commercial viability.
For the Lyra project, the use of standardized subsea production systems is expected to simplify the development process. Standardization allows operators and technology suppliers to apply established equipment designs and engineering practices instead of developing entirely new solutions for each individual field.
The approach can also support more predictable project execution by reducing engineering complexity and improving coordination between equipment manufacturing, installation planning and offshore operations. These factors are particularly important for projects targeting shorter development schedules.
Under the contract, SLB OneSubsea will provide subsea production systems, umbilicals and associated services. These components form an important part of the infrastructure required to develop offshore fields and connect subsea wells to production facilities.
Subsea production systems are designed to control and manage the flow of hydrocarbons from underwater wells. They typically include equipment such as subsea trees, manifolds and associated control systems. These technologies enable operators to manage production activities on the seabed while maintaining connections to surface or onshore facilities.
Umbilicals provide essential connections between subsea equipment and offshore control facilities. They can carry hydraulic fluids, electrical power, communication signals and chemicals required for subsea production operations. Their role is important in supporting reliable control and monitoring of offshore wells.
By supplying these systems and associated services, SLB OneSubsea will contribute to the technical infrastructure required for the Lyra development. The contract also reinforces the company’s position as a subsea technology supplier supporting offshore operators with integrated production solutions.
Alliance Model Supports Faster Project Execution
The Lyra contract highlights the role of long-term supplier alliances in improving the delivery of offshore energy projects. Aker BP’s alliance model is intended to encourage closer cooperation between the operator and its technology and service providers.
Through this structure, companies can coordinate their activities during the early development stages instead of working through separate procurement and engineering processes. Early involvement can help identify technical requirements, reduce potential design changes and improve alignment between project participants.
For SLB OneSubsea, the collaboration provides an opportunity to apply its subsea technology portfolio to a development strategy established jointly with Aker BP. For the operator, working with an established technology partner can support equipment standardization and more coordinated project planning.
The partnership also reflects a broader industry focus on improving the economics of offshore developments. Operators are increasingly looking for ways to develop smaller discoveries, extend the productive life of existing infrastructure and reduce the time required to bring new resources into production.
In this environment, standardized subsea equipment and tieback solutions can provide an alternative to larger standalone developments. By connecting new fields to existing infrastructure, operators can potentially reduce capital requirements and make smaller discoveries commercially attractive.
Significance for Norway’s Offshore Energy Industry
The Lyra development contributes to ongoing activity on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, where operators continue to pursue opportunities to develop offshore resources through existing infrastructure and established technology.
Norway’s offshore sector has a substantial network of production facilities, subsea installations and transportation systems. Making effective use of this infrastructure is an important part of developing additional resources while managing project costs and operational requirements.
Fast-track developments can also help operators respond to changing market conditions and optimize the timing of investments. Shorter project schedules may allow production to begin sooner, supporting earlier revenue generation and more efficient utilization of existing facilities.
The Lyra project provides an example of how collaboration between an operator and a subsea technology provider can support these objectives. Its development strategy combines early-stage cooperation, standardized subsea systems and a tieback connection to existing infrastructure.
The contract awarded to SLB OneSubsea therefore represents an important component of Aker BP’s plans for the field. Through the delivery of subsea production systems, umbilicals and associated services, the joint venture will support the infrastructure needed to advance the development.
Overall, the Lyra field development demonstrates how alliance-based cooperation and standardized technology can contribute to faster offshore project execution. With first oil targeted within three years of discovery, the project offers a model for developing marginal resources and advancing future subsea opportunities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The collaboration between Aker BP and SLB OneSubsea also reinforces the importance of integrating technology suppliers into project planning at an early stage. As offshore operators continue to seek more efficient development strategies, similar approaches could support additional projects across Norway’s offshore energy industry.
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