Gas flows from Beta West

April 8, 2011
Statoil has brought onstream the Beta West gas field in the Norwegian North Sea via the Sleipner B platform.

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway -- Statoil has brought onstream the Beta West gas field in the Norwegian North Sea via the Sleipner B platform.

The structure, discovered in 2009, holds estimated reserves of 80 MMboe. It should lift output from Sleipner B by around 15,000 boe/d and extend its producing life.

Beta West was first proven during fall 2009 in mid-Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Hugin formation), 1.5 km (0.9 mi) west of the Sleipner West field and 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Sleipner B platform.

The 15/9-B-1 discovery well was drilled to the south on the crest of the Beta West structure. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, there was uncertainty over petroleum distribution in the north and west of the accumulation.

Five appraisal wells were drilled within a year, partly to assess Beta West’s associated oil, but Statoil concluded that the volumes were not recoverable.

04/08/2011