Norwegian oil and gas services company Aker Solutions is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Iran on the construction of deepwater oil platforms, the executive director of Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company said on Sunday.
“Several rounds of negotiations have been held between Aker Solutions and the National Iranian Oil Company … An MoU is due to be signed in the coming days,” Gholamreza Manouchehri was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Aker Solutions, based in Oslo, provides oilfield products, systems and services worldwide for customers in the energy industry. The company, founded in 1841, was known as Aker Kvaerner until 2008.
Manouchehri said the Norwegian company is one of the prominent players in the oil platforms industry. He added that the firm has expressed interest in implementing Iran's offshore projects after nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran were lifted in January.
Aker Solutions will finance and preside over the project while the execution will be carried out by domestic contractors.
“By cooperating with the Norwegian firm, the modern technology for building deepwater oil and gas platforms will become available,” Manouchehri said.
The IOEC chief also noted that Aker Solutions is interested in undertaking projects in both the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea regions.
Deepwater drilling and exploration require state-of-the-art technology, but Iranian companies mostly lack the experience in this area.
Iranian companies are capable of undertaking exploration, development and platform construction projects in shallow waters, but except for drilling operations in Sardar-e Jangal Gas Field in the Caspian Sea, they have little expertise in deepwater projects.
