Statoil to suspend Njord and Hyme production in May

The Norwegian oil major Statoil will halt production from Njord and Hyme fields, offshore Norway, for three years starting May 2016. 

Statoil is the operator of the Njord and Hyme fields located in the Norwegian Sea with 20% and 35% interest, respectively. According to Faroe Petroleum, a partner in the project with 7.5% interest in both fields, production from the two fields will be suspended at the end of May 2016 after which the Njord A and B facilities are planned to be towed to shore.

The production will be halted due to the Njord Future Project that includes re-development of the Njord and Hyme fields, development of the Snilehorn field, and potentially further fields in the area. The production is planned to start in 2019.

Faroe said on Friday that the Njord Future Project was progressing to plan with concept and yard selection expected in Q1-Q2 2016 and with a final investment decision (FID) and field development (FDP) submission expected in Q4 2016.

“This important project will seek to take full advantage of the significant cost reductions in the market today to maximize economic value and return on investment,” Faroe said on Friday.

The Njord field started production in 1997 and has been developed with a floating production steel platform, Njord A, which has an integrated deck with drilling and processing facilities, as well as living quarters. The oil from Njord is transported by pipeline from the platform to the storage vessel Njord Bravo, which is anchored right next to the platform.

The Hyme field, discovered in 2009, consists of a subsea system that ties back to the Njord A platform, which is located 19 kilometres away. The field has been developed with a production well and a water injection well via a subsea template with four well slots. The production started in February 2013.

In July 2013, the Njord and adjacent Hyme fields were shut in to allow the deck structure of the Njord A floating platform to be reinforced. The fields were brought back onto production a year later, in July 2014. The production continued without significant further structural work on the Njord A platform until the one planned for mid-2016 when further modifications are expected to be undertaken after the platform has been towed to shore.

Exploration

Faroe also said that, in H2 2016, the Njord partnership was planning to drill a new prospect on the North Flank of Njord, in close proximity to the main field. If successful, the exploration well will add further volumes to the Njord Future Project.

Offshore Energy Today Staff