Offshore staff
LYSAKER, Norway — Aker BP has started production ahead of schedule from the Kobra East & Gekko (KEG) development in the Alvheim area of the central Norwegian North Sea.
ConocoPhillips Skandinavia is the other partner. The plan for development and operation, submitted to Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in June 2021, listed a targeted startup in first-quarter 2024.
In addition, the development has come in below the original budget of NOK8 billion ($712 million).
“This has really been a one-team project where alliance partners and strategic suppliers have delivered safely and efficiently and with a continuous search for improvements,” said KEG project manager, Ronny Åsbø.
The development included drilling four multi-branch wells in the reservoir with a total length of 42 km. Drilling costs formed a major portion of the overall investments.
According to Åsbø, “The drilling performance at KEG has been world class. This has contributed significantly to the…below budget and ahead of schedule deliveries.”
KEG comprises the Kobra East and Gekko discoveries in license PL 203, which were developed with subsea installations linked to the Alvheim Field FPSO. Aker BP estimates recoverable reserves at 40 MMboe.
“The KEG project adds important volumes to the existing production capacity at Alvheim FPSO and will enable extended lifetime up to 2040,” said Alvheim director Ine Dolve. “The ongoing Tyrving project, which is estimated to come onstream in 2025, will add further production to the FPSO.”
She added, “The partnership also sees great opportunities for adding further discoveries to the existing infrastructure in the area.”
Since Alvheim started producing in 2008, various operators have recovered nearly 600 MMboe from the area.
10.26.2023
