A group led by Statoil ASA has chosen an unmanned wellhead platform as the concept for the first phase of the Oseberg development project in the North Sea (OGJ Online, Aug. 22, 2014).
An investment decision is expected next winter.
Unmanned wellhead platforms without living facilities, helicopter deck, and lifeboats represent a new concept in Norway, Statoil said. The platform would be controlled from the Oseberg field center.
Statoil wants to use service vessels connected by gangways to the wellhead platform during maintenance after a jack up platform has completed drilling operations.
Total cost for an unmanned wellhead platform is “very competitive” compared to a subsea concept, Statoil said.
“The alternative was to place the wells on the seabed, but the costs of subsea wells have tripled during the last decade,” said Anders Opedal, senior vice-president.
