Statoil's Heidrun north flank on stream

Aug. 16, 2000
Norway's Statoil AS said oil production began flowing Aug. 15 from the Heidrun north flank development in the Norwegian Sea. The project is part of Statoil's 5.6 billion kroner Heidrun plateau program. Output from the north flank will extend plateau production from the Heidrun tension leg platform (TLP), totaling 125 million bbl, to 2004.


Norway's Statoil AS said oil production began flowing Aug. 15 from the Heidrun north flank development in the Norwegian Sea.

The project is part of Statoil's 5.6 billion kroner Heidrun plateau program. Output from the north flank will extend plateau production from the Heidrun tension leg platform (TLP), totaling 125 million bbl, to 2004.

The north flank development has progressed as planned, said project director Harald Mork, and will satisfy Statoil's profitability requirements even at an oil price of $8.50/bbl.

"This has been a complex and extensive job, with subsea installations, laying of flowlines, and platform modifications," said Mork. "We're now pleased to have hit our target and to come on stream as intended."

Located 4.5 km northeast of the TLP, the north flank installations include three seabed templates with 11 production and injection wells. Two producers are being brought on stream with their well streams piped to the TLP, which has been fitted with 1,400 tonnes of additional equipment to handle north flank output.

Total production from the north flank will start at 38,000 b/d. Heidrun is currently producing 190,000 b/d. A gas export pipeline linking Heidrun with the �gard transport trunkline to K�t� north of Stavanger also forms part of the plateau project.

The north flank is under the same license as the rest of the field, with the Norwegian state holding a direct financial interest. Statoil's partners in the field are Conoco Inc., Houston, and Finland's Fortum Corp.