The Statoil operated Norne field in the Norwegian Sea has set a production record of over 236,000 barrels of oil per day. The field is currently Statoil’s largest single producer on the Norwegian continental shelf.
At today’s oil price of about NOK 175 (USD 19.8) per barrel, the daily output has a value of around NOK 42 million.
On good days the field produces around 15,600 barrels above the design capacity of the production ship.
Hans Eidissen, vice president for operations at Norne, says that the increase in production is partly due to the removal of bottlenecks in the production facilities and in the production wells, such as large pressure drops at the valves. This has helped to increase the oil flow. He also mentions the good regularity at the facilities.
The field is currently producing from nine wells. There are two wells in particular that produce large volumes – up to 50,000 barrels per day each.
The Norne field, which came on stream in November 1997, has reached plateau production. The field has a commercial lifespan until at least the end of 2015. Work to start loading cargo number 300 from the Norne field begins today, Thursday 28 February.