THE partners in the Gudrun discovery offshore Norway have decided to go ahead with its development based on a single steel-jacket platform.
Operator Statoil will now submit a plan for development and operation (PDO) of this North Sea discovery to the Norwegian authorities.
Gudrun holds an estimated 132million barrels oil equivalent, with oil thought to account for about two-thirds of the volume.
However, this is a challenging project.
High reservoir pressure (up to 820 bar) and temperature call for special technology that Statoil has already developed and implemented on its Kvitebjorn and Kristin fields.
Statoil operates the licence and holds a 46.8% interest. Partners comprise Marathon (28.2%) and Gaz de France Suez E&P (25%).
“The decision marks an important milestone in the continued development of this part of the Norwegian Continental Shelf,” said Statoil VP Oystein Michelsen, following last month’s decision to press ahead.
“We’re pleased that work will now begin on recovering Gudrun’s assets.
“It’s positive that our partners have unanimously supported an important decision. It’s been a long process, but I’d praise everyone involved for their commitment to finding a good integrated solution.”
Investment in field installations, pipelines and drilling of production wells is expected to cost about £200million (NOK 21billion).
Plans call for Gudrun, which lies 55km north of the Sleipner gas field, to be developed with a platform equipped for partial processing and export of hydrocarbons via the Sleipner A platform.
The Gudrun installation will feature living quarters with 40 cabins and will draw its power needs from Sleipner East.
The platform will have 16 well slots. Plans call for seven production wells.
The other slots can be used for additional drilling to boost recovery from Gudrun or for wells from other fields.
The reservoir lies in 4,200-4,700m of water and first commercial output is expected in 2014.