Weather slows progress on Skarv project offshore mid-Norway

April 25, 2012
BP continues to postpone the start of production from its Skarv hub in the Norwegian Sea.

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – BP continues to postpone the start of production from its Skarv hub in the Norwegian Sea.

The reasons for the delay are harsh weather during the installation period and the knock-on delay in the riser pull-in campaign.

In the circumstances, the Skarv partners opted to reschedule the installation work andto optimize the riser pull-in process. This should curtail the number of planned production stoppages following start-up later this year.

Earlier this month, DONG Energy’sOselvar field started production via BP’s Ula complex in the Norwegian North Sea.

Oselvar’s oil will be exported via the Ula export pipeline and the gas injected into the Ula reservoir as part of the existing Ula water alternating gas scheme (WAG) to enhance production over the next 10 to 20 years. WAG- injection could extend Ula’s producing life to 2030 or longer – the field came onstream in 1986 with an initial life expectancy of 11 years.

“After 25 years of operation 46% of the reserves in Ula have been produced,” said Grete Vagle, director of the reservoir section. “With enough gas injection for pressure support, the goal is to reach 57%. Stretch goal is 70%, and this is very good for the Norwegian shelf.

“Gas from Oselvar is important to achieve this. Three-quarters of the external WAG gas to be used at Ula will come from Oselvar.”

Over the years, BP has made numerous investments in Ula, including upgrading water injection pumps and a new gas handling module. The volume of gas for injection has been significantly increased, the company says, with the capacity to process the gas doubled to 3.4 MMcm/d (120 MMcf/d).

Ula’s reservoir is suited to WAG. Most of Ula’s oil is produced via this method which was implemented in 1998. The Ula drilling rig is being upgraded and in 2013 a new drilling/overhauling campaign is planned that will include new WAG injectors and producers.

Aside from Oselvar, Ula processes production from BP’s Tambar and Talisman’s Blane fields.

Currently an evaluation and appraisal program is under way of the reservoir in the Ula Triassic, which may prove up additional reserves for production and lead to improved economics and longer field life.

4/25/2012