Aker BP: North Sea Sverdrup project nears FID, Ula decommissioning under review
Aker BP shared numerous offshore project updates in its latest quarterly report.
Aker BP expects the Equinor-led partnership to take FID this spring on the Johan Sverdrup Phase 3 development in the Norwegian North Sea.
This follows final concept selection in December 2024, involving the addition of two new subsea templates with eight wells, connected to existing infrastructure.
In the meantime, development drilling from the field center is set to continue throughout 2025, with four new lateral branches to be added to existing production wells.
Last month, Aker BP and TotalEnergies requested a redetermination process to review, and if necessary re-allocate, each owner’s equity share in the Johan Sverdrup Unit. This would be based on new knowledge acquired through drilling and oil production since the present unit agreement was established in 2015.
As for Aker BP’s operated developments in the Norwegian North Sea, the company expects the first two rigs to start drilling production wells later this year for the Yggdrasil project. Studies continue on the 2023 oil discovery at Øst Frigg Beta/Epsilon, which looks set to be included in the development, following FID that is expected during the second quarter.
Nearby in the Alvheim area, the company and its partners are assessing further ways of increasing oil and gas recovery. They have sanctioned drilling of a new infill target, with first oil expected during the fourth quarter.
At the Edvard Grieg/Ivar Aasen field areas, subsea equipment is undergoing testing for the Utsira High project, alongside preparations for subsea installation and development drilling later this year.
The project comprises two subsea tiebacks: Symra to the Ivar Aasen platform and Solveig Phase 2 to the Grieg platform. Production from both fields is set to start in 2026. A new two-well infill drilling program is also imminent on the Edvard Grieg field.
In the southern Norwegian North Sea, a new sidetrack well in the Tambar area should produce first oil next month. Aker BP expects production from the nearby Ula area to cease by 2028, and it aims to take a concept select decision for the decommissioning project later this year.
Recently, the company assumed operatorship from Sval Energi of the Oda field in production license 405 in the Ula area.
Finally, a second new infill well at the operated Skarv area in the Norwegian Sea recently experienced damage to the wellbore during drilling and has been temporarily plugged.
