Sigyn field starts production of natural gas, condensate

Dec. 30, 2002
Production started Dec. 22 from the two Sigyn satellites in the North Sea, roughly 3 months ahead of schedule, Statoil ASA reported. Production had been scheduled to begin in March of this year (OGJ Online, Oct. 9, 2001).

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 30 -- Production started Dec. 22 from the two Sigyn satellites in the North Sea, roughly 3 months ahead of schedule, Statoil ASA reported. Production had been scheduled to begin in March of this year (OGJ Online, Oct. 9, 2001).

ExxonMobil Corp.'s Norwegian subsidiary Esso Exploration & Production Norway AS is operator for the gas and condensate field, but Statoil, which holds a 50% interest in the field, has been responsible for part of the development, including drilling and subsea operations as well as modification work on its Sleipner A platform. Esso holds 40% interest and Norsk Hydro AS 10%.

Statoil has enjoyed a "constructive collaboration with the operator" during the development project said Tor Torsøy, Statoil's project manager for Sigyn development. "We're pleased to be involved in bringing this project in earlier than planned and to budget," Torsøy said.

Production is under way from one well in Sigyn East and two in Sigyn West, all drilled from the same subsea template on Block 16/7-4. The well stream travels through two flowlines 12 km to Sleipner A for processing and transportation to shore. Sleipner is on Blocks 15/6 and 15/9.

Esso is responsible for reservoir management, with the satellites remotely operated from the platform.

Esso discovered the Sigyn deposits, 12 km southeast of Sleipner East, in 1982 and 1997. Sigyn reserves are estimated at 5.6 billion cu m of gas, 5.6 million cu m of condensate, and 20.5 million bbl of gas liquids (OGJ Online, June 29, 2001). The operators expect the Sigyn satellites to produce for 10 years, Statoil said.