Norway approves two fasttrack North Sea projects

Sept. 19, 2011
Statoil has received approval from Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for its development plans for the Stjerne and Vigdis North-East fields in the North Sea.

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Statoil has received approval from Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for its development plans for the Stjerne and Vigdis North-East fields in the North Sea.

Vigdis North-East, discovered in the Tampen area in 2009, has estimated recoverable volumes of 25 MMboe. The field will be developed via a four-slot seabed template tied back to the Snorre A platform, 7 km (4.3 mi) away, and should come on stream during 2012-13.

Produced oil and gas will be transported initially through a new pipeline to an existing template on Vigdis B before continuing to Snorre A.

Stjerne (ex-Katla), which holds 45 MMboe recoverable, was also discovered in 2009, and will again be developed with a four-slot subsea template, with two production wells and two water injectors to maintain reservoir pressure.

Oil will be piped 13 km (8 mi) northeast to Oseberg South, with the gas used to boost output from the reservoir at Oseberg Omega North. Production should start in 2013.

Statoil estimates the combined investments at $1.7 billion.

09/19/2011