Snadd undergoing tests ahead of Skarv tie-in project offshore mid-Norway

Offshore staff

LYSAKER, Norway – Three wells at Aker BP’s Skarv field in the Norwegian Sea are currently shut in due to technical issues.

The semisubmersibleSonga Enabler is on location performing workovers with a view to restoring production by year-end. Aker BP is working to prevent similar problems elsewhere.

During 3Q, the company also shut in the Snadd test producer well as it had reached its allowed production volume for 2017.

An extended pressure build-up test is in progress to obtain reservoir data for the planned tie-in of Snadd to the Skarv FPSO. Phase 1 will involve connecting three subsea wells tied in to the Skarv A template, with production scheduled to start in 2020.

Aker BP expects to sanction the project later this year, followed by submission of the plan for development and operation (PDO), award of the main contracts for the electrical trace heating system, the subsea production system and topsides modifications scopes, and establishment of an alliance organization to deliver the project.

Its near-term focus is on qualification of the electrical trace heated pipe-in-pipe flowline system and securing long-lead items.

The company’s Valhall Flank West project in the North Sea, which will be developed out of the Tor Formation at the western flank of the Valhall field, is currently progressing from front-end engineering design (FEED) to detail engineering.

Another planned program is to expand the capability for water injection to theValhall field’s northern basin drainage area, enabling injection to depleted producers and offering potential to increase reserves recovery by 6-8 MMboe.

In spring 2018, Aker BP expects the partners in the North of Alvheim and Askja-Krafla (NOAKA) area, comprising the Frigg Gamma Delta, Langfjellet, Frøy, Fulla, Frigg and Askja-Krafla discoveries, to take a concept selection decision.

This will likely involve an area-wide development solution including subsea structures and unmanned/normally unmanned installations on the individual reservoirs, based on their size and complexity.

11/01/2017