First-phase production has started from the 100-MMboe Halten East subsea tieback development in the Norwegian Sea.
The Equinor-operated project in the Kristin-Åsgard hubs area comprises six gas discoveries and uses existing infrastructure and spare processing capacity at the Åsgard B platform, 35 km to the west.
Norway’s authorities approved the plan for development and operation in February 2023. Gas has begun flowing on schedule from the Gamma accumulation via the first of six wells drilled by the semisub Transocean Spitsbergen. More wells are set to be brought onstream throughout the year.
The other discoveries are Harepus, Flyndretind, Nona, Sigrid and Natalia.
Under an EPC contract, Aker Solutions and OneSubsea supplied the subsea production system, five subsea templates (three for the northern area and two for the south) and the umbilical, also managing topside modifications at Åsgard B.
Technip Norge was responsible for pipelay and marine installations, with TechnipFMC providing the flow assurance simulator and leak detection system.
Phase 2, expected to launch in 2029, will feature a sidetrack and possibly three further wells. Equinor estimates the combined costs of both phases at about NOK9 billion ($852 million), and it sees potential to ultimately produce up to 200 MMboe in the area through future developments.
Produced gas and oil/condensate head to Åsgard B for processing, while the oil and condensate are stored at the Åsgard A and Åsgard C installation for export by tankers. The processed gas is sent through the Åsgard Transport gas pipeline to Kårstø in western Norway for onward delivery to markets in Europe.
Kjetil Hove, Equinor’s executive vice president for development and production on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), said, “We have a large portfolio of projects that will connect discoveries to our producing hubs. Equinor expects to put over 30 such projects on stream at the NCS within 2035.”
Last November, Equinor acquired Sval Energi’s 11.8% interest in the Halten East Unit, increasing its ownership to 69.5%. The other partners are Vår Energi (24.6%) and Petoro (5.9%).
