Offshore staff
LYSAKER, Norway – Aker BP has produced first oil from the Valhall Flank West development in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
The company formed an alliance for the normally unmanned platform with Kvaerner, Aker Solutions and ABB.
Aker BP submitted its plan for development and operation in December 2017. First steel was cut four months later at Kvaerner’s yard in Verdal, Norway, and installation of the jacket and topsides followed this spring at the field location, with no additional carry-over work.
The platform is designed to receive power from shore via the Valhall field center. It also features what Aker BP claims is the world’s first electric lifeboat, also monitored from the field center.
Both the crane and seawater pump are electric – this helps reduce maintenance, Aker BP added. Also instrumental in the project were the following:
* Subsea alliance between Aker BP, Subsea 7 and Aker Solutions
* Modification alliance between Aker BP and Aker Solutions
* Alliance for jackup rigs between Aker BP, Maersk Drilling and Halliburton.
The subsea alliance managed the tie-in of Valhall Flank West to the field center through pipelines, power cables and umbilicals. The jackup Maersk Invincible arrived at the field location in July and drilled and completed the first two wells using “single trip multifrac” technology to speed up well stimulation.
Valhall has produced over 1 Bboe since start-up in 1982, and Aker BP aims to produce a similar volume over the next 40 years. Valhall Flank West will contribute close to 80 MMboe.
Investments in the project totaled NOK5.5 billion ($609 million), with a break-even price for the development of $28.5/bbl. Aker BP and partner Pandion Energy plan to drill at least nine wells, and potentially more.
12/17/2019
