Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – Spirit Energy must take action on the Vale subsea facilities in the North Sea, following an audit by Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA).
The review, conducted in late August, concerned Spirit Energy’s application for a life extension for Vale, a subsea tieback to the Equinor-operated Heimdal platform.
The PSA’s team identified one non-conformity related to acceptance criteria and performance requirements for leak detection, and four improvement points concerning the flexible end pipes, christmas tree, wellhead, and risk assessments for leaks.
Spirit Energy must respond by Oct. 30.
Vale is in the central Norwegian North Sea, 16 km (10 mi) north of the Heimdal field in 115 m (377 ft) of water. Gas/condensate production started in 2002 via a subsea template, including a horizontal production well with a side track.
Production had to be halted in 2018 due to processing issues at Heimdal facility. These were later resolved with operations re-starting in October 2019.
According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Vale can potentially produce as long as the Heimdal facilities are available.
Gas is transported via the Vesterled pipeline system to St Fergus in eastern Scotland. Condensate is piped to the Brae field in the UK central North Sea and onward to Cruden Bay.
10/12/2020
