By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Feb. 8�Norske Shell AS said Thursday its Draugen field in the Norwegian Sea remained shut down after production was cut last Friday due to adverse winter weather and extremely low temperatures.
Acting Draugen Platform Manager Nils Gunnar Gundersen said the temperature at the field, on block 6407/9, had climbed to �1� C and "work is being done to prepare the start-up procedure."
He said, "At the same time people are checking the various control systems, metering instruments and valves, and making the necessary verifications so that all is set for start-up" as soon as the temperature rose above the freezing mark.
He stressed the he had opted to have platform personnel carry out a controlled shutdown on Friday "on account of operational safety."
"The temperature on Draugen has climbed and the wind is 17 knots," said Gundersen. "Production will start as soon as the mercury climbs over the freezing point and all operational considerations permit."
Shell said no figures were yet available for production lost from Draugen in the last week. According to Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy figures, the field is producing 223,000 b/d of oil, 350,000 cu m/day of gas and close to 1 million tonnes of NGLs.
