Operator responsibility for the Visund, Snorre, Vigdis and Tordis fields in the North Sea is being acquired by Statoil from Norsk Hydro as early as 1 January 2003.
Additionally embracing production licence 057, also in the North Sea and an exploration target, these handovers will thereby take place six months earlier than originally planned.
The change forms part of the agreement between Hydro and Statoil in connection with the acquisition of Saga Petroleum in 1999.
“Snorre and Visund are tied operationally to our Statfjord and Gullfaks fields,” explains Øivind Reinertsen, senior vice president for the Tampen area.
“Acquiring the operatorship for these fields will lay the basis for a further coordination of our operations in this part of the northern North Sea.”
He adds that bringing forward the handovers also helps to reduce uncertainty for the employees affected.
The plans are being adjusted at this point to ensure a successful change of operator within the new schedule.