Neptune Energy's North Sea Gudrun electrification delayed

Offshore staff

LONDON — Issues with commissioning the Utsira High electrification project in the Norwegian North Sea have delayed startup of the Gudrun electrification project until mid-2023, Neptune Energy reports in its latest results statement.

The company continues to assess further projects for electrifying platforms in Norway.

In the Norwegian Sea, final commissioning is underway at the redeveloped Njord Future facilities, and production should resume through the Njord field complex next month.

Output should continue to ramp up as operator Equinor brings the Hyme and Bauge subsea tiebacks onstream by the end of the year. A further tieback, the Neptune-operated Fenja development, is completed operationally and should be ready for startup in early 2023.

The company has plans for more exploration drilling in 2023 in the Gjøa area in the North Sea, targeting the Cerisa prospect. It continues to progress development concepts for the Dugong, Blasto and Echino South discoveries.

In the Dutch North Sea, Neptune has sanctioned an appraisal well early next year at the L7-F gas field, which was discovered in the 1970s, close to the company’s L10 hub. Further exploration targets are under review for drilling in 2023.

Neptune aims to achieve concept selection and FEED readiness for its L10 offshore carbon capture and storage project by year-end 2022, followed by submission of a storage license application. Discussions continue with potential industrial customers.