Offshore staff
LYSAKER, Norway – Aker BP has started production from the Gråsel reservoir in the Norwegian Sea, four months ahead of schedule.
Gråsel is located above the Skarv reservoir, 210 km (130 mi) west of Sandnessjøen, and contains around 13 MMboe. Oil and gas are produced using spare capacity on the Skarv FPSO.
The development, which cost NOK1.2 billion ($139 million), entailed drilling a new producer well from an existing slot on the Skarv field, with pressure support from a shared injector for Gråsel and the Tilje accumulation.
Re-use of existing infrastructure helped to limit the break-even price to around $15/bbl, said Ine Dolve, senior vice president Operations & Asset Development, supported by the stimulus package adopted last June by Norway’s Parliament (Storting).
Ahead of start-up, production from Skarv was suspended for 25 days in May and June for maintenance and modifications, including an upgrade of production capacity in the gas plant. Production resumed from the Skarv and Ærfugl Phase 1 fields before Gråsel was put onstream.
Work will also take place this summer on an injection well to maintain pressure in the Gråsel reservoir.
Contributions from Ærfugl and Gråsel should restore plateau production through the FPSO of over 170,000 b/d, while other measures should cut CO2 emissions per produced barrel by 30% from 2022.
Currently the company is maturing other development projects in the area with a view to taking investment decisions by the end of 2022. The Skarv Satellite project includes the Shrek, Idun Nord, Alve Nord and Ørn discoveries, and there are plans for a new exploration campaign in the area comprising operated and non-operated wells in 2022.
06/18/2021
