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    New Ekofisk platform offshore Norway gets early startup

    Oct. 31, 2013
    ConocoPhillips has started production from the Ekofisk 2/4 Z platform in the southern Norwegian North Sea.

    Offshore staff

    TANANGER, Norway -- ConocoPhillips has started production from the Ekofisk 2/4 Z platform in the southern Norwegian North Sea.

    This is roughly two months ahead of schedule, according to the plan for development and operation (PDO) approved by Norway’s parliament in June 2011.

    Ekofisk South, one of various projects designed to prolong production from the Greater Ekofisk Area for another 40 years, comprises the Ekofisk 2/4 Z wellhead platform with 35 production wells and a seabed installation for eight water injection wells. Water injection started in May and is controlled from an operations center at ConocoPhillips’ offices in Tananger. Aker Solutions in Egersund, Norway, built the platform.

    Earlier the operator completed the comprehensiveEkofisk I cessation project, which involved removal of nine redundant platforms and transportation of a total of 120,000 metric tons (132,277 tons) of material to shore for disposal.

    The new 552-cabin accommodation platform and field center for Ekofisk were installed in August, and the facility is currently being commissioned. This replaces two existing accommodation platforms and a chartered accommodation rig - it was assembled at the SMOE yard in Singapore, with Kværner Verdal building the steel jacket and bridge.

    ConocoPhillips is alsopreparing the Eldfisk field for a further 40 years of operation. This summer, the Eldfisk 2/7 S steel jacket, bridge support with flare boom, and gangways were installed. Kværner Stord is currently finishing the topsides.

    On completion, the facility will form an integrated wellhead, process, and accommodation platform which will be lifted in place on Eldfisk during the first half of 2014. Eldfisk 2/7 S will accommodate 40 new wells for production and water injection, with production start-up planned by early 2015. Pre-drilling of wells is in progress through the jacket.

    At the same time, major modifications are under way on the existing Eldfisk platforms, to ensure they, too, are fit for extended service.

    10/31/2013