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    1. Field Development

    North Sea Hod set for redevelopment through Valhall lookalike platform

    Feb. 11, 2020
    Aker BP has selected a preferred concept for its proposed redevelopment of the chalk Hod oil field in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
    (Courtesy Aker BP)
    The normally unattended wellhead platform serving the Valhall Flank West development in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
    The normally unattended wellhead platform serving the Valhall Flank West development in the southern Norwegian North Sea.

    Offshore staff

    LYSAKER, Norway – Aker BP has selected a preferred concept for its proposed redevelopment of the chalk Hod oil field in the southern Norwegian North Sea.

    Based on good experience with the new normally unattended wellhead platform serving the Valhall Flank West development, the company plans a similar 12-slot installation at Hod, with production tied back to the Valhall field central complex.

    This year the company will continue work toward a final investment decision and submission of the plan for development and operations.

    At the Valhall field center, drilling operations have started to develop the lower Hod formation with seven wells to be constructed. The F-18 water injection well, scheduled to enter service in the current quarter, will test waterflood efficiency in lower Hod - if successful, the Valhall partners could sanction a second lower Hod development phase.

    In the central Norwegian North Sea, Aker BP has prepared the Ivar Aasen platform for subsea tie-ins of nearby discoveries. The company has selected a possible development concept for one of these, Hanz, and start-up could follow in 2022.

    At the Alvheim area, drilling of the single well for the Skogul field tie-in has finished and production should begin shortly. Drilling of the Kameleon Infill Mid well should also get under way soon, with an additional infill well potentially during the second half of the year.

    Production testing continues of the Frosk discovery and a recently completed pressure build-up test provided information on reservoir connectivity information that should help optimize future development of the Frosk area.

    In the Norwegian Sea, Phase 1 of the company’s Ærfugl development is on track for the subsea tieback to the Skarv FPSO. Drilling started late last year, and offshore modifications are in progress.

    Final testing of the technology qualification has been completed, with fabrication continuing of the electrical heat-traced flowline and pipeline structures are ongoing. Pipelay is due to take place this summer with start-up planned for 4Q.

    The company and its partners approved Ærfugl Phase 2 in November. Drilling of the first well is scheduled as part of the Phase 1 drilling campaign, with production slated to begin this summer, with the two remaining satellite wells coming onstream in 4Q 2021.

    In the latter part of 2019 Aker BP participated in the Busta discovery well in license 782S. Early analysis suggests a resource in the range 6-63 MMboe.

    02/11/2020