AGR & StatoilHydro sign Seabed Excavation frame agreement

AGR Group announced recently that its subsidiary AGR Subsea Ltd has signed a major frame agreement with StatoilHydro for the worldwide provision of seabed excavation services.

The agreement is for a period of 3 years with options to extend for two further 2 year periods.

AGR Subsea performs seabed excavation projects utilising the ClayCutter X^® route preparation system and other hydrodynamic and dredging technology. ClayCutter X^® uses high pressure water delivered by AGR's unique 9,000 hp portable pumps to cut trenches in a wide variety of seabed soils, and can also be used to excavate glory holes and to flatten large areas of seabed prior to template installation.

The frame agreement follows the highly successful summer 2008 campaign to prepare pipeline routes on the Southern Extension of the Ormen Lange field, where ClayCutter X^® exceeded all expectations for speed and accuracy.

John Sands, AGR Subsea Ltd Managing Director and head of AGR's excavation & trenching division, said: "This frame agreement reflects the excellent performance of the new generation ClayCutter X^® and our high power pumps. It supports AGR's commitment to continually develop new technology to reduce cost and risk for our clients and stay ahead of our competition.".