Norway: Vega Field Provides Increased Production

Yesterday, 2 December, production commenced on the Vega gas and condensate field off Norway’s west coast. This will be an important contribution to Statoil’s production on the Norwegian shelf.

The Vega field has been developed with three seabed templates, sending gas and condensate to the Gjøa platform, which also recently came online.

At production, the Vega field will deliver seven million cubic metres of gas and 3,900 cubic metres of condensate daily.

On schedule

The project has been completed according to plan, on time and budget. The Vega field cost NOK 7.6 billion to develop.

” I am very pleased that we have completed the project as planned. This is a challenging field,” says Michelsen.

The reservoirs in the Vega field have fairly high pressure and temperature.

“The Vega field is what we call a technology-qualifying field. We have carried out 39 technology qualifications. This means that the equipment has been tested and designed to be used in new areas. This was done simultaneously with the development,” says Vega project coordinator, Helge Hagen.

Two licenses

The Vega field consists of two licenses, Vega and Vega Sør. Statoil has substantial ownership interests in both licenses.

At the time of start-up, four wells are online, the final two will come online in April.

Almost the entire development has been carried out by Norwegian companies.

During the construction, Statoil has a good cooperation with Fjord Base in Florø, which has been the storage location for materials for the operations on the seabed. In the future, Statoil will purchase base services here.

Vega

* Vega comprises 1,4 per cent of Statoil’s total own production, and 2 per cent of our total oil and gas production on the Norwegian shelf.

* Recoverable reserves are 18 billion cubic metres of gas and 26 million barrels of condensate.

* The Vega discoveries were made in 1982 and 1987.

* The partners in Vega are Statoil (60%) and Petoro (40%).

* The partners in Vega South are Statoil (45%), Bayerngas Norge (25%), Idemitsu Petroleum Norge (15%) and GDF SUEZ E&P Norge (15%).

The suppliers

* FMC has supplied underwater equipment and structures

* Heerema: Heavy lifts in connection with the installing of subsea structures

* Subsea 7: Laying and connection of pipelines and cables.

* Dolphin: Drilling, completion and clean-up of wells using Bideford Dolphin

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Source: Statoil , December 2, 2010;