In July 2014, Statoil and ORE Catapult the sector to suggest ways to help install the 30MW Hywind floating offshore project in Scotland.
Atkins said its design, with the two other shortlisted ideas, is being studied further to progress the plans.
The UK-based engineering firm suggested using a "reusable transport frame" to transport multiple turbines to the project site. Atkins has also worked on the Principle Power WindFloat prototype in Portugal.
The Hywind floating foundation is a spar-based design. Statoil said the floating structure "consists of a steel cylinder filled with a ballast of water and rocks. It extends 100 metres beneath the sea's surface and is attached to the seabed by a three-point mooring spread".
Statoil is currently developing the 30MW Hywind Scotland project at a site off the northeast Scottish coast where five 6MW turbines will be installed in water depths of over 100 metres.
Project Manager of the Hywind Scotland project, Torgeir Nakken, said a final investment decision is expected in September once it has obtained onshore and offshore planning consent.
"The final target is to have at least one installation concept ready for use in the first large commercial Hywind project – the next project after Hywind Scotland," Nakken said in May.
A demonstration Hywind turbine has been in operation off the coast of Norway since 2009.
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