German energy company RWE-DEA AG and Norwegian oil field service firm Aker Maritime ASA said Wednesday they've filed an application to become licensees of Block 35/3 in the Norwegian North Sea. The block contains a natural gas field discovered in 1980, but was deemed unprofitable at that time. With the aid of new technology and new work models, Aker Maritime and RWE-DEA say they now see opportunities for profitable development.
If the application is approved by authorities, the firms will drill one test well in the field next spring. If it meets expectations, a plan for development and operation could be submitted in 2002, followed by production at earliest in 2004.
Based on the information that is currently available about the reservoir, Aker Maritime and RWE-DEA envision developing the field without an offshore platform. The field lies 85 km off the coast of western Norway. Subsea wells could be tied back directly to an onshore processing plant and the gas transported to customers on the continent, partly through the existing pipeline system.
According to the agreement between the partners, RWE-DEA would have a 51% share of the license and would act as operator.