By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Feb. 16�Statoil AS Friday proposed a revised plan for development and operation of its Kvitebjørn gas field to Norwegian authorities after a remapping prompted it to include the field's flank areas in its development scheme.
By enlarging the development area on Block 34/11 in the Norwegian North Sea, Statoil expects to upgrade reserves to 52 billion cu m of gas and 135 million bbl of condensate from 47 billion cu m and 105 million bbl.
The expansion, according to project manager Bjarne Bakken, will mean that 11 wells will be drilled instead of the 9 originally planned. He said the layout of the wells also would be configured differently.
"We also need more time to prepare each well because the well tracks will be longer," noted Bakken.
Adding additional wells and drilling longer well tracks is expected increase costs at Kvitebjørn by 500 million kroner to 10.5 billion kroner. At the heart of the current development plan, which Statoil said remained unchanged by the expansion, is a fully integrated fixed steel production and drilling platform in 190 m, with living quarters.
The development, which includes oil and gas trunklines connected to the gas treatment facilities at Kollsnes and Mongstad, is scheduled on stream in 2004.
Statoil has a 40% share of the field, the state's direct financial interest (SDFI) has 40%, Norsk Hydro AS 15%, and TotalFinaElf SA 5%.