Saipem Completes Deepest Subsea Pipeline for Equinor’s Irpa Project in Norwegian Sea

Saipem Completes Deepest Subsea Pipeline for Equinor’s Irpa Project in Norwegian Sea.Saipem has completed the installation of a subsea pipeline for Equinor’s Irpa project in the Norwegian Sea, marking a major milestone in offshore engineering. The operation was executed by the pipelay vessel Castorone, one of Saipem’s most advanced flagship vessels.

The project involved laying an 80-kilometer Pipe-in-Pipe pipeline at a depth of 1,350 meters, making Irpa the deepest subsea field development in Norway’s history. This pipeline will connect the Irpa subsea production system to the Aasta Hansteen platform.

Pipe-in-Pipe technology features two concentric pipes—an inner pipe for transporting hydrocarbons and an outer pipe for protection. This design helps maintain temperature along the seabed route, preventing blockages from hydrates or waxes, which are common risks in cold, deep waters.

Installation of the 20-inch diameter pipeline was completed on July 22 after 84 days of continuous offshore operations. Logistics were supported from the port of Sandnessjøen, where prefabricated joints and equipment were loaded onto support vessels and delivered to the Castorone.

This achievement reinforces Saipem’s reputation as a leading engineering partner for complex offshore projects. The company emphasized that the work was completed to the highest standards of safety, quality, and sustainability, demonstrating its capability to operate in extreme marine environments.