OKEA steps up exploration in Draugen area

May 4, 2023
OKEA is preparing to drill multiple wells in the Norwegian sector this year and next.

Offshore staff

TRONDHEIM, Norway – OKEA is preparing to drill multiple E&P wells in the Norwegian sector this year and next, according to the company’s latest results statement.

In the Draugen area of the Norwegian Sea, which the company operates, an exploration well will be drilled this summer on the Springmus East prospect (with an option to drill Springmus W), along with an observation well on the Garn West South IOR opportunity.

And the company has submitted an application to the Norwegian authorities to extend the Draugen license from 2024 to 2040.

On the Draugen production platform, topside installation work continues to prepare for the Hasselmus tie-back for start-up in Q4, with installation set to start shortly of the 8-km subsea flowline.

In the second half of next year, OKEA expects to participate in a well on the Arkenstone prospect in Equinor-operated license PL1014.

OKEA recently acquired operatorship of the Brage field complex from Wintershall Dea. Here it plans to drill an observation pilot well in the Brage south area and to submit a plan for development and operation for a well on the Cook accumulation.

Various modification projects are now under way on the Brage platform to ensure continued integrity and potentially extend the life span beyond 2030. And in partnership with DNO Norge, the company is assessing a possible 13-km tieback of the 30-MMboe Brasse field to Brage.

Drilling of a production well in Talisker East finished during Q1: topside hook-up is progressing on the Brage platform with production due to begin in the current quarter. Drilling has now started on a new Sognefjord gas producer with a further well scheduled for Fensfjord South: both these wells should come onstream in Q3.

At the Repsol-operated Yme field in the eastern Norwegain North Sea, drilling will begin shortly of new production wells and one injector well at Yme Gamma from the jackup platform from Inspirer.

Finally, at the Aker BP-operated Ivar Aasen field in the North Sea, the new D-9 and D-8 wells have had to be shut-in due to high water cut and gas oil ratio. Aker BP plans interventions in the current quarter.

To mitigate the risk of hydrogen-induced stress cracking, 12 subsea clamps were installed earlier this year.

05.04.2023