Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – RWE-DEA Norge has consent from Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway to drill an exploration well in the Norwegian Sea.
The semisub West Alpha could spud well 6507/7-15S next month, in 399 m (1,309 ft) water depth on production license 435. The location is roughly 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of the Heidrun field, and 178 km (110 mi) offshore.
Drilling could last between 81 and 122 days, depending on the results.
PSA has also approved Statoil to use the new Troll P12 gas pipeline in the North Sea, which was installed in April by the Allseas vessel Solitaire.
The 36-in. (91-cm) pipeline runs from the Troll A platform to the gas processing facility in Kollsnes, western Norway, and the onshore P12 terminal.
Seabed conditions from Troll A to Norskerenna are relatively even, but the approach to Kollsnes consists of an uneven seabed with water depth variations in the range 350-150 m (1,148-492 ft).
PSA says trenching and rock installation had to be implemented to ease installation of the pipeline.
The P12 pipeline, due to start up on Oct. 1, should help maintain Troll’s export capacity at 120 MMcm/d (4.2 tcf/d). It has been designed for a lifespan of 50 years.
09/26/2011
