Aker Kvaerner ASA is extending the operational life of four North Sea oil fields, which could extend the production phase of the fields by around three years.
The UK Health and Safety Executive has accepted the "safety case" submitted by Aker Kvaerner Operations, allowing the company as duty holder to continue to operate the AH001 installation 110 mi northeast of Aberdeen, the company said.
Aker Kvaerner Operations took over as duty holder of the Amerada Hess / Talisman platform in April, extending the scope of its previous integrated support role and assuming management responsibility for the installation's day-to-day operations.
The HSE's acceptance of the AH001 safety case allows Aker Kvaerner to launch its field life extension plan to extend the operational life of the Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Renee, and Rubie fields in the North Sea while still seeking year-on-year improvements in health, safety, and environmental performance.
AH001 is located in UKCS block 15/21 on the Amerada Hess-operated Ivanhoe/Rob Roy field development. The installation also processes and exports oil from the Renee and Rubie fields, which are operated by Talisman.
The Ivanhoe and Rob Roy fields were originally estimated to contain recoverable reserves of 88 MMbbl and have a viable life expectancy of 10 years. They have already produced more than 180 MMbbl over a 15-year period, the company said.
Hess and Talisman, with the input from Aker Kvaerner Operations, are seeking to extend the production phase of all four fields, well beyond the previously anticipated shutdown date at the end of 2005.
As previously announced, for Aker Kvaerner Operations, the total value of the work will exceed GBP60 million.
10-05-04
