Aker BP obtains rig consents for North Sea drilling

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority has given Aker BP consent to use the Maersk Integrator jack up for drilling on Ivar Aasen field and Odfjell Drilling Ltd.’s Deepsea Nordkapp semisubmersible for drilling on Alvheim field in the North Sea.

OGJ editors

July 22, 2020

2 min read

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has given Aker BP consent to use the Maersk Integrator jack up for production drilling on Ivar Aasen field in PL 001 and Odfjell Drilling Ltd.’s Deepsea Nordkapp semisubmersible for production drilling on Alvheim field in PL 203.

Ivar Aasen is in the northern part of the North Sea, 30 km south of Grane and Balder fields in 110 m water depth. Discovered in in 2008, field development comprises a production, drilling, and quarters (PDQ) platform with a steel jacket and a separate jack up rig for drilling and completion. Production started in 2016.

Aker BP awarded a two-well contract extension to Maersk Drilling for the rig in January (OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2020). In its second-quarter 2020 report, Aker BP said the company plans a two-well IOR campaign for the year’s second half. The first well is scheduled to be spud by the end of August. The campaign will be completed by the yearend.

Alvheim, also in the northern part of the North Sea, lies west of Heimdal in 120-130 m water depth. Discovered in 1998, the field has been developed with subsea templates tied to the Alvheim FPSO. Production started in 2008.

Aker BP is operator of Ivar Aasen (34.7862%) with partners Equinor Energy AS (41.473%), Spirit Energy Norway AS (12.3173%), Wintershall Dea Norge AS (6.4615%), Neptune Energy Norge AS (3.023%), Lundin Energy Norway AS (1.385%) and OKEA ASA (0.554%).

Aker BP is operator of Alvheim (65%) with partners ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (20%) and Lundin Energy Norway AS (15%).