From Oil & Gas to Energy Transition: TAI Milano in the North Sea

TAI Milano S.p.A. has built a long-standing and consistent presence in the North Sea, one of the most demanding and technologically advanced offshore regions in the world. Over the past decades, the company has supplied reliability safety valves for offshore applications, contributing to both brownfield upgrades and major greenfield projects across Norway and the UK Continental Shelf.

Operating in the North Sea requires not only compliance with strict international standards, but also proven reliability in extreme conditions, including high pressure, low temperature and aggressive offshore environments. TAI Milano S.p.A. has demonstrated its capability to meet these challenges through continuous involvement in complex offshore projects, supplying ASME Section VIII safety valves designed in accordance with API standards, including applications beyond standard limits such as API 10000 design. The company’s engineering approach also aligns with the stringent expectations of the North Sea market, where compliance with NORSOK requirements and adherence to internationally recognized industry practices such as IOGP guidelines are often essential elements for project qualification and execution.

Recent projects highlight the company’s ongoing role in key offshore developments. These include large-scale FPSO units such as Rosebank (UK) and Bacalhau (Brazil), as well as major field developments like Johan Sverdrup Phase 1 & 2 (Norway) and Johan Castberg (Norway). The company has also contributed to energy transition initiatives such as the Northern Lights Phase 1 & 2 project in Norway, focused on CO₂ transport and storage, where compliance with demanding technical specifications and offshore integrity requirements remains a critical factor.

This presence is built on decades of experience. TAI Milano S.p.A. has been active in the North Sea since the late 1990s, working on projects involving major operators such as Equinor (formerly Statoil) and AKER BP (formerly BP Norge and Lundin), supplying safety valves for platforms and field developments including Åsgard A & B, Kristin, Kvitebjørn, Gullfaks, Visund, Gjøa, Valemon, Gina Krog, Aasta Hansteen, Ivar Aasen and Mariner. These projects required advanced technical solutions, often involving duplex, super duplex and special alloys, as well as spring loaded safety valves and pilot operated valves for high pressure service, designed for wet gas applications in order to avoid issues related to hydrate formation. TAI Milano’s experience in these environments has also required familiarity with client specifications derived from NORSOK standards, particularly regarding material selection, documentation, traceability and offshore quality assurance requirements.

Earlier references further demonstrate the depth of experience in the region. Projects such as Kvitebjørn, Huldra, Heidrun, Visund and Veslefrikk tie-ins involved particularly demanding operating conditions, including high set pressures well above API 526 limits, confirming the company’s capability to deliver reliable solutions in critical offshore environments. In such applications, compliance with rigorous operator standards and alignment with global offshore safety expectations, including those reflected in IOGP practices, have been key contributors to successful execution.

Over the years, TAI Milano S.p.A. has worked alongside leading operators and EPC contractors active in the North Sea, including Equinor, Statoil, Aker Solutions and Aibel, building long-term relationships based on customer reliability, performance and trust. This continuous collaboration reflects a strong customer-oriented approach, where reliability, technical support and compliance with stringent offshore project requirements are key factors in project execution.

Today, TAI Milano S.p.A. continues to support the evolution of the North Sea, from traditional oil and gas production to new energy projects, maintaining a solid position as a trusted supplier of high pressure safety valves for offshore applications, with the technical capability and quality systems required to meet the evolving expectations of NORSOK-driven and IOGP-aligned offshore developments.