Offshore staff
STAVANGER, Norway – The Oseberg field in the Norwegian North Sea has been producing for 25 years and should remain in operation through 2040, according to operator Statoil.
Over the past decade the licensees have invested more than $7.33 billion in the field and its facilities, Statoil said, with subsea advances and new technology more than doubling recoverable oil reserves in the main reservoir from 1.1 Bbbl to 2.6 Bbbl (a recovery rate of 69%). To date 1.7 Bbbl have been produced.
Originally Oseberg was due to ceaseproduction in 2017, but advances in drilling technology and use of gas injection have improved the recovery rate and the expected field lifespan.
In recent years the living quarters on the A platform have been refurbished, with all 319 cabins rebuilt, and various break rooms, the control room, the laboratory, and the galley all replaced.
A more comprehensive upgrade is under way on the Oseberg B drilling platform, for workovers and drilling of new wells. The upgrade is expected to be completed in spring 2014.
Additionally, the partners have procured a newCategory J rig to cover long-term rig needs and to reduce drilling costs. The new rig will drill wells on existing templates for exploration and new field developments.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate estimates that gas injection on Oseberg has delivered over 400 MMbbl more oil than would have been extracted with water injection alone.
12/16/2013
