Johan Sverdrup comes on stream in Norwegian North Sea

Oct. 7, 2019
Johan Sverdrup field Phase 1 production came on stream Oct. 5 on Utsira High in the Norwegian North Sea. Production is expected to ramp up quickly with eight production wells already drilled or in the process of being drilled, reported Lundin Petroleum.

Johan Sverdrup field Phase 1 production came on stream Oct. 5 on Utsira High in the Norwegian North Sea. Production is expected to ramp up quickly with eight production wells already drilled or in the process of being drilled, reported project partner Lundin Petroleum AB.

A field center consists of four platforms—drilling, processing, living quarters, and riser platform. Phase 1 plateau production of 440,000 b/d is expected by mid-2020.

Equinor AS operates Johan Sverdrup with 42.6% interest. Partners are Lundin Norway AS 20%, Petoro AS 17.36%, Aker BP ASA 11.57%, and Total SA 8.44%.

Johan Sverdrup field has recoverable reserves of 2.7 billion boe (95% oil, 3% dry gas, the remainder NGL). The field has a production capacity of 660,000 b/d after Phase 2 comes onstream in fourth-quarter 2022 (OGJ Online, Sept. 3, 2019).

Lundin Petroleum said Johan Sverdrup at its peak is expected to produce 25% of all petroleum production on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Johan Sverdrup is being operated with electricity supplied from shore and is expected to be one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitting fields worldwide. CO2 emissions are expected to be less than 1 kg/bbl, about 25 times less than the world average.

Post-Phase 1 plateau, field operating costs are expected to be less than $2/bbl and the full-field breakeven oil price is forecast at less than $20/bbl.

Johan Sverdrup—the third-largest oil field on the NCS by reserves—lies on Blocks 16/2, 16/3, 16/5, and 16/6 about 155 km west of Karmoy and 40 km south of Grane field. The field was proven by Lundin in 2010 through well 16/2-6 (Avaldsnes).