Aker BP has completed plugging wells at Valhall field center as part of the modernization of the field as it aims to produce a total of two billion bbl from the North Sea field.
The Maersk Invincible drilling rig has left Valhall field center, marking the end of several years of plugging operations, the operator said Apr. 19. A total of 30 old wells from the original drilling platform have been plugged over the course of three campaigns since 2014.
The original QP accommodation platform was removed in summer 2019 (OGJ Online, Dec. 8, 2020). Over the course of the next few years, the original drilling platform and process platform will also be removed from the field center. The original Hod wellhead platform, south of Valhall, will also be removed and replaced.
First oil flowed from the field in 1982. Since then, over 1 billion boe have been produced from the area—more than three times as much as expected at start-up.
The company believes “considerable” resources remain. The company plans new wells, flank developments, and new technology to produce from the field up to 2050, said Valhall’s asset manager Ole Johan Molvig.
Aker BP originally estimated the plugging campaign to take 10 years at a cost of 15.5 billion kroner. The work was completed in 4 years and at a cost of 10.1 billion kroner.
Aker BP is operator with 90% interest. Pandion Energy holds the remaining 10%.
