Wintershall Dea hands in amended plan for Norwegian field

Operator Wintershall Dea and licensees Petoro and Sval Energi have submitted the amended plan for the development and operation of the Maria field to Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

Located at a depth of 300 meters in the Norwegian Sea, the Maria field started production in 2017 from two subsea facilities.

The project features two underwater installations (subsea templates) above the Maria reservoir that are connected via a pipeline network to the existing Kristin, Heidrun, and Åsgard B platforms.

However, challenges were discovered with the pressure support on the field when production started. The amended plan for development and operation covers several measures to increase recovery from the field, including a new well framework and new wells.

“I am happy to see that the companies’ work to increase production from the Maria field is now taking shape in a changed plan for development and operation. The further development of the Maria field contributes to an increase in resources and to utilizing established infrastructure which is important for the petroleum industry in Central Norway,” said Norway’s Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland.

TechnipFMC was awarded in April with an integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (iEPCI) contract for the Maria revitalization project, which will include the tie-in of an additional lightweight six-slot integrated template structure (ITS).

Maria Phase 2 is expected to increase the field’s reserves by 22 million barrels of oil equivalent. The investments total approximately NOK 4 billion (approximately $404 million).

Start of production from the new well frame is anticipated in the second quarter of 2025, with an assumed production period until 2040.

Wintershall Dea is the operator of the Maria field with a 50 per cent stake, and Petoro holds 30 per cent, with Sval Energi holding the remaining 20 per cent.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) granted Wintershall Dea Norge a drilling permit in March last year for an appraisal well located west of the Maria field.