TotalEnergies needs more time to restart all fields at huge North Sea gas project

As bad weather interfered with its plans, delaying the production from remaining fields, TotalEnergies EP Danmark, a subsidiary of France’s energy giant TotalEnergies, has amended its timeline for the full production capacity from all fields at its natural gas redevelopment project in the Danish sector of the North Sea.

The works to reach full production capacity at the Tyra redevelopment project off the coast of Denmark have been underway since March 2024, when the first gas export from the Tyra II occurred, once the first production was achieved after the revamp.

However, challenges related to two transformers supplying power to the vital gas compressors hindered full commissioning. As repairs moved forward, progress was made in commissioning activities. The full technical capacity was anticipated to be reached by mid-November 2024, subject to remaining operational uncertainties.

The full technical capacity milestone paved the way for a gradual increase to maximum production before the end of the year. While the commissioning and ramp-up of Tyra II production is progressing, weather conditions and minor operational occurrences have affected the overall duration of the ramp-up period.

The ongoing ramp-up activities have enabled gas production to be re-established from three of the six fields. Operational challenges and adverse offshore weather conditions have left their mark on the operator’s progress, with limiting weather windows delaying the reactivation of the Tyra satellite wells.

Based on current weather forecasts, the timeline for the reactivation of all satellite wells to reach plateau production has been extended by approximately three weeks. As a result, plateau production is now expected to be reached in the second half of January 2025.

Tyra is seen as Denmark’s largest natural gas field, which is owned by the members of the Danish Underground Consortium, encompassing TotalEnergies EP Danmark (operator, 43.2%), BlueNord (36.8%), and Nordsøfonden (20%).

Euan Shirlaw, Chief Executive Officer of BlueNord, commented: “While it is disappointing in the short-term that plateau production is now expected early in the new year, the recent above-ground challenges are now well understood and the long-term potential of Tyra II remains strong.  

“Once the necessary wells have been reactivated, we do not expect performance to be subject to weather in the way that it has been during the start-up phase. We are looking forward to reaching plateau production in January 2025, and to communicating further on the promising HEMJ results as well as initiating our capital returns programme.”

TotalEnergies points out that nearly 50% of Denmark’s energy consumption is covered by oil and gas. Once Tyra has reached a production plateau, it is expected to amount to approximately 6% of the European Union’s natural gas production, making the country a net gas exporter once again.

Drilling activities in June 2024 with the Shelf Drilling Winner jack-up rig in the Harald East area, close to the Norwegian border, discovered additional gas condensate resources in the Harald field, located in shallow waters 250 km off the west coast of Denmark.

The first production from the Harald East Middle Jurassic well was achieved two weeks ago, allowing for a longer plateau production from the Tyra hub.