Tune South satellite well onstream

Offshore staff

OSLO -- Production has begun from the Tune South satellite well in the North Sea, according to StatoilHydro. The well is tied back to the Oseberg field center via the Tune subsea template. Output from Tune South is expected to be 1.4 MMcm/d of gas, the company says.

During 20 years of production, the Oseberg field's reserves have been more than doubled, from 1 Bbbl barrels to 2.4 Bbbl of oil. The development of satellite fields such as Tune has been key to this progress, the company says.

The Tune, Oseberg western flank, Oseberg South J-structure, Gamma Main Statfjord, and Oseberg Delta satellites are contributing more than 170 MMboe this year.

In March, StatoilHydro proved more oil and gas in the Oseberg area's Katla well. The prospect will probably also be developed and tied back to the existing subsea infrastructure in the Oseberg area.

“In its first year of production, Tune South will account for 10% of the gas exported from the Oseberg field center,” says Torstein Hole, senior VP of the operations west business cluster for StatoilHydro. “This will be a key contribution in maintaining the positive production development at Oseberg.”

The licensees are StatoilHydro (operator with 50%), Petoro (40%), and Total E&P Norge (10%.)

07/20/2009