Statoil has let a contract for design and construction of another subsea gas compression plant offshore Norway—this one in aging Gullfaks oil field on Block 34/10 in the North Sea.
The company recently received Norwegian government approval for what it said would be the world’s first such installation, to boost recovery from Mikkel and Midgard gas and condensate fields in the Asgard area of the Norwegian Sea (OGJ Online, Mar. 28, 2012).
For the Gullfaks project, Statoil let a contract to Framo Engineering for a facility to be installed 15 km from the Gullfaks C platform.
Jannicke Nilsson, head of operations North Sea West, said subsea compression might boost Gullfaks production by 3 billion cu m of natural gas.
Statoil said the project might boost the field’s recovery rate to 74% from 62%.
Statoil hasn’t made a final investment decision.
Gullfaks field produces through three integrated, fixed platforms in 130-220 m of water in the Tampen area. The facilities also handle production from Gullfaks satellites and other nearby fields.
According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the field produced 14,000 b/d of oil last year.
Statoil holds a 70% interest. Petoro AS holds the rest.
