Exploration and development action continues apace elsewhere off Northwest Europe.
Among recent activity:
- Elf Petroland started production from two gas fields in Block K6 off Netherlands.
- AS Norske Shell let a 225 million kroner ($36 million) contract to Northern Ocean Services Ltd. (NOS), Teesside, U.K., for work on infield flexible flow lines and umbilicals in Draugen field, the first development in the Haltenbanken frontier area off Central Norway.
- Norway's Den norske stats oljeselskap AS agreed on contractual matters with Norwegian Contractors relating to construction of a new concrete base for Sleipner A platform in the Norwegian North Sea.
- Elsewhere in the Norwegian North Sea, Statoil's 7/7-2 wildcat flowed 4,964 b/d of oil through a 9.5 mm choke. The well is near the median line with U.K. waters northwest of Ula field. Pay depths and other details aren't disclosed, but Statoil said the indicated structure could contain 20-100 million bbl. Further tests are planned Interests are Statoil 50%, Ameranda Hess 25%, Total 15%, and Amoco Corp. 10%.
NETHERLANDS
Elf Petroland, the Dutch unit of Ste. Nationale Elf Aquitaine, expects first phase production from the Block K6 central complex to be as much as 177 MMcfd.
The central complex consists of K6C and K6P main production platforms and K6D satellite platform. The K6d satellite straddles the adjoining Block K9C operated by Placid International Oil Ltd. Elf Petroland produces on behalf of Placid under a unit agreement.
Two more platforms under construction, are to be installed during the next 2 years. That will increase productive capacity on a block that Elf sees as still having good exploration potential. Gas will move through the NGT pipeline to shore.
The K6 area fields will account for about 25% of Elf Petroland's net production for several years. In 1991, Elf Petroland produced 459 MMcfd.
Start-up of the K6 field brings current Elf Petroland gas production to 480 MMcfd, making it Netherlands' second biggest gas producer after the NAM combine.
Block K6 was brought on stream at a cost of about $450 million. The two operating platforms will be remotely operated from a central platform 30 km away. Elf has operated an unmanned platform on the Waddenzee since 1989.
Interests are held by Energie Beheer Nederland BV 50%, operator Elf 36.36% , Total Oil & Gas Nederland BV 18.18%, Eurafrep Nederland BV 1.962%, Cofraland BV 1.755%, and Corexland BV 1.743%.
SLEIPNER
The new Sleipner platform base will be ready for deck mating in May 1993.
Statoil and Norwegian Contractors also agreed to an insurance settlement for the original sleipner A concrete base, which sank off Stavanger last August (OGJ, apr. 20, p. 41).
Norwegian Contractors said the agreements mean its overall financial loss in connecting with Sleipner is not expected to surpass 300 million kroner ($48 million), the amount it provided for in 1991 accounting.
Sleipner A is the centerpiece of the joint troll and Sleipner gas fields development in the Norwegian North Sea. Beginning in 1993, Sleipner would have been the hub of a pipeline system to Europe delivering 148 bcf of gas its first year.
Statoil hopes to have a replacement Sleipner platform ready to start up by early 1995 (OGJ, Sept. 2, 1991, p. 30).
DRAUGEN CONTRACT
Norske Shell's contract to NOS covers installation and protection of about 50 km of infield flexible flow lines and 30 km of control umbilicals that will connect five subsea wells to the main platform in Draugen field.
Work on the contract will begin in 1993.
The 428 million bbl field, about 160 km northwest of Trondheim in average water depth of 255 m, is expected to start up by yearend 1993 (OGJ, Mar. 30, p. 19).
Field facilities will consist of a gravity base production platform, a floating oil offloading buoy, two subsea water injection templates, and three subsea satellite wells.
Work includes installation, protection via trenching and rock dumping, and all associated services such as testing and surveys.
Plans call for installation in 1993 using the NOS Norlift vessel for flow line installation and Northern Explorer vessel for umbilical installation and trenching support. Trenching will be conducted by a new design flexible pipeline trencher under construction by NOS. Work will be supported using remotely operated vehicles without divers.
Draugen interests are statoil 56%, operator Norske Shell 21%, and BP Petroleum Development (Norway) Ltd. 14%.
Copyright 1992 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
