Statoil ASA reported the restart of oil and gas production July 19 from the Njord A platform in the Norwegian Sea. Production had been shut for maintenance for nearly a year.
Extensive analyses in 2013 revealed a need to reinforce the platform structure. Maintenance work included bracing the primary beams and struts, and increasing the length of the secondary beams under the platform.
Even with the recent reinforcements, Statoil said the platform “will not be robust enough to resume drilling activity” this summer.
Statoil said long-range plans include further bolstering the platform to prepare it for future drilling operations and an extended lifetime on the Njord field.
Arve Rennemo, head of Njord operations, said, “Njord A will produce oil and gas until the summer of 2016, after which it will be taken to shore for additional upgrades.”
Production from Njord A platform began in September 1997. It was designed for an original lifetime of 16 years.
Before production ceased on July 27, 2013, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate estimated 2013 production would average 10,000 b/d of oil, 980 million standard cu m of natural gas, and 230,000 tonnes of NGL (OGJ Online, Sept. 27, 2013).
