Var Energi Buys Exxon's Norway Assets for $4.5 Bln
ExxonMobil said on Thursday it will sell its Norwegian upstream oil and gas assets to independent exploration and production company Vår Energi for $4.5 billion as part of an ongoing large-scale global divestment plan.The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, includes ownership interests in more than 20 producing fields in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea with a combined production of approximately 150,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day (boepd) in 2019. Most are operated by local energy company Equinor, including Grane, Snorre, Ormen Lange…
Goliat Supply Vessel Connected to Shore Power
Vår Energi (formerly Eni Norge) and Norwegian shipowner Simon Møkster Shipping have completed the first phase of hybrid power conversion of the Stril Barents vessel, currently working as a supply vessel on the Goliat field in the Barents Sea offshore Norway.Stril Barents is a supply vessel for the Goliat platform in the Barents Sea, one of the oil fields on the Norwegian shelf with the lowest CO2 emissions."Through efficient and good cooperation, the first phase has been completed. The shore power connection has been tested and is now operational. This allows Stril Barents to be connected to shore power…
Aker Solutions Wins Jotun FEED Contract
The newly formed exploration and production (E&P) company Vår Energi is progressing the redevelopment of the Balder and Ringhorne area offshore Norway and a FEED contract for the Jotun FPSO life extension has now been signed with Aker Solutions.In total, about 20 billion NOK ($2.3 billion) will be invested in the redevelopment of the area, which includes the first NCS license area, PL 001 from 1965, said the largest independent E&P company on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).Part of the redevelopment, is the Balder X Project. For Balder X, Vår Energi…
Eni Norge Granted Drilling Permit
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Eni Norge AS a drilling permit for well 7122/7-7 S, cf. Section 15 of the Resource Management Regulations.The well will be drilled from the West Hercules drilling facility after concluding the drilling of wildcat well for Equinor Energy AS.The drilling programme for well relates to the drilling of an appraisal well in production licence 229. Eni Norge AS, the exploration and production company in Norway, is the operator with an ownership interest of 65 per cent. The other licensee is Equinor Energy AS (35 percent).The area in this licence consists of parts of blocks 7122/7, 8, 9 and 10.
Equinor Energy Strikes Gas in Barents Sea
Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor Energy has made discovery containing up to 24billion cubic feet of gas in the Barents Sea. Two exploration targets were found, with the first containing between 10 and 20billion cubic feet, the other between one and four billion.The discovery’s profitability is currently unclear, said a statement from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD)."Equinor Energy AS has completed the drilling of wildcat well about 15 kilometres northwest of discovery well (Atlantis) and 370 kilometres north of Hammerfest. The well's primary exploration target was to prove oil in reservoir rocks from the Late Triassic Age (upper part of the Snadd formation)…
Digitization of the Norwegian Continental Shelf
A new web-based tool is being used for the first time offshore for collecting, systematizing and presenting safety critical information on the Goliat platform in the Barents Sea.The system, developed by Eni Norge in cooperation with Safetec and SINTEF, measures and monitors more than 10,600 technical components in real time.The solution reflects several years of intensive work in the industry to develop better methods and systems for risk management. Since 2013, Eni Norway with design and engineering support from Safetec and SINTEF, and software development of Eigen Ltd…
Johan Castberg PDO Approved
The plan for development and operation of the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea was approved by the Norwegian Parliament on Monday, June 11. The plan will now be submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for formal approval.With first oil scheduled for 2022, the field has a production horizon of 30 years. Capital expenditures for the project are NOK 49 billion ($6.2 bln), and recoverable resources are estimated at 450-650 million barrels of oil equivalent. The field development consists of a production vessel and a comprehensive subsea system, including a total of 30 wells distributed on 10 templates and 2 satellite structures.
WIN WIN: Wind Powered Oil Recovery Concept Progresses
The DNV GL-led joint industry project, WIN WIN (WINd powered Water INjection), has completed its first phase and determined that wind power could be used to power offshore water injection. The project is currently moving into its second phase, which includes refining and testing the electrical systems, and investigating possibilities for broader applications. The project consists of four partners: DNV GL, ExxonMobil and ENI Norge – all part of the first phase – and the Norwegian Research Council – a new participant for this second phase. The first phase of the project determined the concept is technically feasible…
ENI awarded licenses in Norwegian Sea
Eni has been awarded three licenses by Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy as part of the APA 2016 – Awards in Pre-Defined Areas. Following the award, Eni is now operator in PL900 in the Barents Sea, with a share of 90 per cent in joint venture with Concedo with 10%. In PL901 in the Barents Sea, Eni is partner with 30 per cent share, with Statoil as operator with 50 per cent share and Concedo with 20 per cent. Eni is moreover partner in PL128E with 11.5% shares with Statoil as operator with 63.95% share and Petoro with 24.55%. The license is adjoining the PL128/PL128D licenses where Statoil and Eni Norge have recently announced the Cape Vulture oil and gas discovery.
Wind-powered Oil Recovery Project Green-lighted
The DNV GL-led WIN WIN Joint Industry Project (JIP), which melds offshore wind with offshore oil and gas, shows that for suitable fields,finds that wind-powered water injection is technically feasible, capable of meeting performance targets and offers a cost-competitive alternative to conventional water injection solutions. For the past year, participants from both the renewable and oil and gas industries have worked together in the DNV GL-led WIN WIN (wind powered water injection) JIP to develop the concept of using floating wind turbines to power a water injection system in detail and assess its technical and commercial feasibility.
Eni Starts Production of Goliat
Eni has started production of the Goliat field, located 85 kilometers northwest of Hammerfest, within Production License 229, in a ice-free area in the Barents Sea off Norway. Goliat, the first oil field to start production in the Barents Sea, was developed through the largest and most sophisticated floating cylindrical production and storage vessel (FPSO) in the world. The Unit has a capacity of 1 million barrels of oil and was built with the most advanced technologies in order to tackle the technical and environmental challenges linked to operations in the Arctic’s context. The daily output will reach 100,000 barrels of oil per day (65,000 boed net to Eni).
Eni Starts Production of Goliat Field
Eni has started production of the Goliat field, located 85 kilometers northwest of Hammerfest, within Production License 229, in a ice-free area in the Barents Sea off Norway. Goliat, the first oil field to start production in the Barents Sea, was developed through the largest and most sophisticated floating cylindrical production and storage vessel (FPSO) in the world. The Unit has a capacity of 1 million barrels of oil and was built with the most advanced technologies in order to tackle the technical and environmental challenges linked to operations in the Arctic’s context. The daily output will reach 100,000 barrels of oil per day (65,000 boed net to Eni).
Oil, Wind Join Forces in DNV GL-led WIN WIN JIP
The concept of using wind power for offshore oil and gas applications is one step closer to realisation. WIN WIN, a DNV GL-led joint industry project (JIP), is running with the following seven participants: ExxonMobil, ENI Norge, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd, Statoil, VNG, PG Flow Solutions, and ORE Catapult. Initial DNV GL studies showed that a standalone wind-powered water-injection system could become cost competitive for various types of applications, particularly for water injection far from the production platform and when costly retrofitting is not an option. DNV GL launched the WIN WIN JIP to help develop the concept further.
Aker Delivers World's First Subsea Compression System
The world's first subsea gas compression system went on stream yesterday at the Statoil-operated Åsgard field. Aker Solutions has delivered the subsea compression system for this field development. "We're immensely proud to be part of this achievement, which is a major milestone for our industry," said Aker Solutions' Chief Executive Officer Luis Araujo. Aker Solutions in December 2010 was awarded the contract by Statoil to deliver the system, which consists of modules for two identical sets of compressors, pumps, scrubbers and coolers fitted together in an 1,800-metric ton steel frame.
BV's New Academy to Meet Increased Verification Demand
Leading classification society Bureau Veritas has opened a Verification Academy which will help it to meet increasing demand for verification in the EU and globally and to cement its leadership in verification. The Aberdeen-based academy trains both BV staff and clients in implementing the most beneficial methodology for verification of offshore installations. Bureau Veritas is the only externally accredited IVB under UKAS 17020 with respect to initial suitability and operational verification. Matthieu de Tugny, Senior Vice-President and head of Offshore…
First Subsea Completes Work on Goliat FPSO
Subsea connector specialist First Subsea informs it has completed the installation of bend stiffener connections for gas lift and production risers, power cables and umbilicals, for the Goliat FPSO in the Norwegian Barents Sea. Operated by ENI Norge AS, the Goliat FPSO is the first offshore oil development in Norway's Arctic region, in the Barents Sea. In total the Goliat FPSO features 11 Type II bend stiffener connections (BSC) at present, with a further 10 receptacle I-tubes preinstalled within the base of the vessel, enabling more tie-backs to be added as field production increases.
Increased Cooperation in the Barents Sea
Statoil, Eni Norge, Lundin Norway, OMV and GDF SUEZ will collaborate on solving operational tasks tied to exploration in the Barents Sea. The project, called BaSEC, Barents Sea Exploration Collaboration, will initially last for three years. The project will cover the Barents Sea, but with a special focus on the areas included in the 23rd licencing round. "We are taking operational responsibility seriously and have connected leading companies with operations in the Barents Sea to work together to find good and robust solutions for the tasks we see ahead…
HHI Orders Refrigeration, Cold Stores for FPSO
Goliat, the first cylindrical floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel on the Norwegian Continental Shelf built for Eni Norge and partner Statoil at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), will feature ALMACO’s cold stores and refrigeration machinery. Hyundai Heavy Industries awarded the contract to ALMACO Group in July of 2011, and ALMACO finalized the commissioning work at the end of 2014. ALMACO said its scope of supply includes the supply and installation of cold stores and refrigeration machinery, as well as commissioning and spare parts.
Eni Norge Enters Agreement with DNV GL
Eni Norge AS awards DNV GL a framework agreement for the supply of inspection services to the Goliat platform in the Barents Sea. The term of the contract is three years, with an option for a two-year extension. The assignment consists of planning and carrying out inspections of static equipment, load-bearing structures and offloading and anchoring systems aboard the Goliat FPSO during its operational life. The contract, which will help further reinforce the petroleum cluster in Northern Norway, is in line with Eni Norge’s ambition to create spin-off effects connected with the Goliat project.
Exploration Well in Drivis Completed
Operator Statoil has together with PL532 partners made an oil and gas discovery in the Drivis prospect in the Barents Sea. This concludes the 2013/2014 exploration programme around the Johan Castberg field. Well 7220/7-3 S, drilled by the rig West Hercules, has proven a 68 metre gross gas column in the Stø formation and an 86 metre gross oil column in the Stø and Nordmela formations. Statoil estimates the total volumes in Drivis to be in the range of 44-63 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.), out of which 42-54 million barrels of oil.
