Aibel has secured the Wisting topsides FEED contract from Equinor and its licence partners for the vessel planned to produce oil at the Barents Sea development. The award follows a competition among suppliers from Norway and covers front-end engineering and design, together with further design refinement to support a decision on execution.

The partners aim to select a concept in late 2026, when they also plan to determine whether Wisting should advance. They are targeting late 2027 for the final investment decision.

In its 22 October 2026 announcement, Aibel said work would begin immediately, with completion expected in late 2027. Around 250 employees in Asker will carry out the work, assisted by colleagues based in Haugesund.

Aibel said the contract also provides for engineering, procurement and project management (EPma) under an option offered exclusively to the company. A separate award for topsides fabrication is to follow later.

Equinor‘s senior vice president for project development, Trond Bokn, said substantial work remained to make Wisting commercially viable and feasible to execute. The study will inform the investment decision, and the operator intends to seek project improvements with its suppliers.

Aibel President and CEO Mads Andersen said the assignment would help preserve the company’s expertise as major assignments for Norway’s offshore sector and European wind developments had recently concluded.

According to Equinor, half of Wisting’s total investment relates to subsea development, drilling and well activities. Should the project go ahead, the anticipated operating life is 30 years, providing work for suppliers in Norway and northern Norwegian communities.

Operator Equinor holds 42.5% of Wisting, alongside Aker BP with 27.5%, Petoro with 20% and INPEX Idemitsu Norge with 10%.