By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 14 -- Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea became the first Statoil ASA field that can handle all produced water without any environmentally-harmful discharges, the company announced.
This follows a 600 million Norwegian kroner investment by the Heidrun licensees in a plant for injecting such water—and any oil or chemical residues it contains—back into the reservoir.
The result is zero harmful discharges under normal operation, without any increase in air emissions. The injected water serves as pressure support to improve oil recovery, Statoil said.
"This represents an important step forward for Statoil towards its zero-discharge goal," said Sten Paltiel, Geidrun operations natural environment sector adviser. "And, it marks the principal measure on Heidrun for meeting the Norwegian government's requirement of 0 harmful discharges to the sea by the end of 2005."
Heidrun is producing at its plateau level of just over 170,000 b/d of oil, Statoil said. Around 75,000 b/d of water accompanies the output (OGJ Online, Oct. 10, 2001).
The new injection facility will be able to handle just over 110,000 b/d of produced water when it is expected to become fully operational Aug. 1. The water cut on Heidrun is set to increase, and plans call for plant capacity to be expanded in 2005, Paltiel said.
