Offshore staff
TRONDHEIM, Norway – OKEA and DNO have agreed on a fast-track development concept for the 30-MMbboe Brasse oil and gas discovery in the Norwegian North Sea, involving a tieback to the Brage production platform 13 km to the north.
Following detailed design studies, they expect to take a final investment decision (FID) early in 2024.
Last December, the companies entered an agreement under which OKEA would take a 50% stake in the Brasse license (PL740), with operator DNO holding the remaining 50%.
They have now agreed to commercial terms for the tie-in to the Brage license, which OKEA operates with a 35.2% working interest. To cut costs and maximize synergies, operatorship of Brasse will transfer to OKEA from Sept. 1.
Knut Gjertsen, OKEA senior vice president for projects and technology, said the new solution would involve less extensive topside modifications at Brage and a simplified design of the production wells compared to previous project assessments. “We believe that this will result in a better and less costly project," Gjertsen said.
Faroe Petroleum, later acquired by DNO, discovered Brasse in 2016 and drilled four appraisal wells over the next three years. Two-thirds of the reserves are thought to be oil and the remainder gas and NGL.
Norsk Hydro originally developed the Brage Field, with the platform starting operations in 1993. Latterly, operatorship transferred to Equinor, then to Wintershall Dea and finally last year to OKEA, a mature fields specialist.
Post-FID, Brasse could start up in 2026.
Ørjan Gjerde, general manager DNO North Sea, said, “In addition to finally unlocking profitable barrels from the Brasse discovery itself, the project is expected to materially extend the Brage Field’s remaining lifetime."
08.09.2023
