Statoil has installed a new subsea template that ensures improved recovery on the Norne field in the Norwegian Sea. A total increase of 10 million barrels of oil is expected.
The illustration shows the first five subsea templates at the Norne field and the newly-installed K template.
One of the two wells tied in to the template commenced production on 18 October.
"Statoil's ambition is to maintain a production level of one million barrels of oil equivalent per day on the Norwegian continental shelf until 2015," says Terje Overvik, executive vice president for Exploration & Production Norway.
"Improved recovery on Norne will help us achieve our ambitious targets and is in line with the goal of increased exploitation of existing infrastructure."
Production from the new subsea template will prolong the field's life. This development contributes to strengthening the group's position in the Halten Bank area.
"The project has been commissioned in a short time and on budget and without any serious incidents, thanks to the efforts of our own personnel and suppliers," says Anniken Aamodt Widerøe, project manager.
The cost framework for the project is NOK 750 million.
The four-slot seabed template, designated K, is a typical subsea satellite development tied in to existing infrastructure. Installation of the K template and tie-in of pipes and control cables to existing subsea templates has been carried out by Acergy Norge. The subsea equipment is supplied by FMC Technologies.
The K template was installed back in September 2005. The work was carried out as a continuation of marine activities on the Urd field, comprising the Norne satellites, Stær and Svale. The remaining work was carried out during the summer and autumn of 2006.
The other well will be commissioned by the Transocean Arctic rig in November and production from this well will most likely commence at the end of the same month. The development solution allows for the drilling of yet two more wells from the K template.
The application for production from the K template was sent to the authorities as a supplement to the plan for development and operation (PDO) for Norne in April 2005.