Wood's Henrik Melsom on brownfield excellence and Norway’s energy future

As Norway’s oil and gas sector enters a new phase, shifting focus from greenfield expansion to optimising existing infrastructure, Henrik Melsom, Senior Vice President of Wood’s Norway business, is leading with clarity and purpose.

Since stepping into the role just over a year ago, Henrik has sharpened Wood’s strategic focus and elevated operational performance, positioning the company as a trusted partner in complex brownfield solutions.

Brownfield engineering excellence: the hero of Norway’s oil and gas sector

With major greenfield developments - such as Aker BP's Yggdrasil - now delivered, attention is shifting to how Norway sustains offshore production in the years ahead.

While exploration drilling remains active, the pace of new field developments is expected to slow unless significant discoveries are made. In this context, brownfield infrastructure is becoming increasingly vital - not only for maintaining output, but for ensuring long-term energy security.

“Norway’s offshore assets are ageing, and operators are increasingly focused on strategies that not only optimise production but extend asset life well beyond 2060 – in line with the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority’s (Hatvil) 100-year perspective. This long-term outlook from the regulator emphasises safe and sustainable operations for decades ahead, requiring investment in maintenance, modifications and integrity management to keep ageing assets viable.” Henrik explains.

“We’ve built a solid reputation as a partner of choice for fit for purpose brownfield solutions across both onshore and offshore platforms. Whether it’s maintenance, modifications or projects, we’re supporting Norway’s oil and gas production by maximising the value of existing infrastructure.”

Driving efficiencies: smart solutions for legacy assets

Expert brownfield engineering partners are essential in optimising legacy systems and repurposing existing infrastructure to accommodate new production. Subsea tiebacks to nearby assets are increasingly common, and smart solutions are key to ensuring safety, efficiency and regulatory compliance.

“We bring a proactive approach to our contracts, always seeking how to do better. We’re not afraid to think differently and challenge what’s seen as the norm. Whether that’s stripping waste and placing high focus on core tasks or challenging the client’s needs to get to the core of the solution, we bring focus to everything we do.”

“We’ve always been focused on continual improvement, but this past year we’ve really ramped up our focus. I’m particularly proud of the efficiencies we’ve seen across our engineering execution which have been recognised by our clients in-region.”

New contract win: Supporting Equinor with boosted gas integration at Snorre field

Just last week, Wood secured a $27 million engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract with Equinor to deliver critical infrastructure upgrades at the Snorre field in the Norwegian North Sea. The scope includes topside modifications and control system upgrades on Gullfaks A, enabling gas export and import between Snorre and Gullfaks via a new interconnecting pipeline. This work, part of Equinor’s SNEIG project, will enhance production flexibility and optimise resource utilisation across these assets.

“For me, this win reinforces the importance of brownfield excellence. We’re not just maintaining assets – we’re enabling smarter integration and extending life in ways that matter. By installing gas heating systems, fiscal metering and integrating with existing infrastructure, we’re helping Equinor achieve operational ambitions while contributing to the continued strength and innovation of Norway’s energy landscape.” Henrik says.

“This contract builds on the successful FEED we delivered earlier this year and reflects the trust we’ve earned through decades of partnership, plus how we can be a complete asset partner. We are proud to play a role in ensuring the reliability and sustainability of these vital resources for years to come.”

Building on the success of Wood in Norway, since 1973

Wood’s heritage in Norway dates back over five decades. Today, the business continues to support some of the region’s most critical energy assets.

“It still surprises me how little our success is known – I would even describe Wood as a bit of a hidden gem. We’ve been quietly but confidently supporting major operators for decades.”

To date, Wood has delivered 90+ major project engineering and brownfield project scopes across the Norwegian Continental Shelf working with clients such as Equinor and Gassco.  In 2024, the company completed its largest contracts in Norway to date, including full EPCI scopes that accelerated schedules and brought first oil four months ahead of plan.

Why Wood? A strategic partner for Norway’s energy sector

Henrik attributes Wood’s success in Norway to a unique blend of technical depth, client centricity and in-region competency.

“We’re not just a service provider - we’re a strategic partner.” he says. “Clients benefit from our local expertise and the ability to tap into global insights, benchmarks and specialist knowledge. It’s a powerful combination.”

Supporting Norway’s energy transition

Wood is involved in electrification, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and renewable energy integration across Norway. Henrik is clear-eyed about the dual challenge facing the sector: maintaining oil and gas production while accelerating decarbonisation.

“It’s a transition, not a switch,” he says. “Electrifying offshore platforms is an important contributor to Norway’s net zero journey. The challenge now is to ensure the onshore grid can support offshore electrification. There needs to be a balance between supporting offshore and prioritising green onshore projects.”

“An added complexity is the impact of CO₂ tariffs on project economics. While electrification cuts emissions, volatile carbon pricing and regulatory uncertainty make the business case harder to justify, leading some operators to reconsider investments. ”

Wood’s experience in complex brownfield scopes - such as Equinor’s Hywind Tampen - has positioned the company as a strong player in offshore electrification and system integration.

Looking ahead at focused growth and innovation

Henrik’s priorities for the next 12 months are clear: supercharge delivery efficiencies, strengthen client relationships, leverage digital tools and expand Wood’s energy transition portfolio.

“We’re renowned for efficiency, quality and reliability, and that’s something I’ll continue to sharpen. We’re also exploring how innovation - whether through digital tools, smarter workflows or new engineering approaches – can enhance operational efficiency and help us exceed client expectations.”

“A true partner anticipates change, adapts with agility and consistently delivers smarter, more efficient solutions that create lasting value. That’s what we revolve our delivery around - committed to our clients and their goals as the Norwegian energy sector matures. This focus on efficiency and innovation is what truly differentiates Wood."

As Norway enters a new phase of exploration and brownfield investment, Henrik’s leadership is positioning Wood as a reliable brownfield partner with competence, capacity and capability at its core.