Italian oil company ENI is likely to chose contractors for its Arctic oilfield Goliat by the end of March after confirming recently it would go with a floating production storage and offloading vessel, or FPSO, as its project concept.

Scandoil.com had deduced in March 2007 that it ENI would go with a floater and sub-sea facilities despite pressure from local politicians for sub-sea development driven from land.

Eni (65 percent), StatoilHydro (20 percent) and DNO (15 percent) are expected to confirm the employment of much of the help from the nearby Snoehvit development. Eni, however, is among the world’s most experienced FPSO users and can draw on its own resources of expertise.

ENI will now, as already reported by Scandoil.com, deliver its plans to the Norwegian Parliament for approval. Policitians, who have never said no in Norway, will likely approve the contraversial Goliat in their spring 2009 session.

Goliat has been hotly protested by Bellona, Norway’s answer to Greenpeace, as well as others charged with monitoring the environment. Leaks from an oil rig drilling in the area became national news.

The northerly town of Hammerfest will serve as base for supplies and helicopter flights.

ENI Eni Norge AS (operatør) -, StatoilHydro ASA - 20 % og Det norske oljeselskap ASA - 15 %.

Tags: Det norske oljeselskap, Eni, StatoilHydro