Uchenna Izundu
OGJ International Editor
LONDON, Aug. 5 -- StatoilHydro expects plateau production of 1.5 million standard cu m/day of natural gas in 2009-10 from the Tune South satellite well, which was tied back to Oseberg field in the Norwegian North Sea.
Tune South, a subsea template development, started production July 18.
Torstein Hole, senior vice-president of the operations west business cluster in StatoilHydro, said, “In its first year of production, Tune South will account for 10% of the gas exported from the Oseberg field center. This will be a key contribution in maintaining the positive production development at Oseberg."
The satellite field is 10 km southwest of the Oseberg field center, and gas will be delivered via free capacity in Oseberg’s existing infrastructure. Tune South was proven in 2002.
“The development comprises a single satellite well tied back to Tune Main, as well as modifications to the Oseberg D platform,” said StatoilHydro.
In 2006, the pipeline and umbilical were installed and connected to Tune Main with the well being drilled this year and connected to the satellite in the summer.
Oseberg’s reserves have more than doubled, from 1 billion bbl to 2.4 billion bbl because of satellite developments. So far, it has been in production 20 years.
The Tune, Oseberg western flank, Oseberg South J-structure, Gamma Main Statfjord, and Oseberg Delta satellites are contributing more than 170 million boe in 2009.
In March StatoilHydro proved even more oil and gas in the Oseberg area's Katla well. This prospect will probably also be developed and tied back to the existing subsea infrastructure in the Oseberg area.
StatoilHydro operates the license with a 50% stake, and its partners are Petoro with 40% and Total E&P Norge with 10%.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
