The job of upgrading Statoil's Veslefrikk field in the North Sea has started after production ceased at 24.00 on 25 May. It is due to resume in three months.
All 12 hoses linking the Veslefrikk A wellhead platform with the floating B production unit had been rolled up on 28 May, two and a half days ahead of schedule.
"This work went very quickly and painlessly," says Tore Bech, manager for the Veslefrikk hull upgrading project.
"That reflects very good preparations, and we experienced no problems during the operation."
Mooring lines on Veslefrikk B will be disconnected during 31 May so that the platform can be towed to Aker Stord. Plans call for it to reach this yard south of Bergen on 2 June.
The A platform will be left unstaffed as soon as its processing facilities have been stripped of gas and all the tanks are opened and cleaned.
That work is due to be completed on 31 May, reports Mr Bech. It will then be monitored from Stord.
Average daily production from Veslefrikk stood at 43,000 barrels for May until the shut-down.