TotalEnergies bumps plateau production at giant North Sea gas project to month-end

TotalEnergies EP Danmark, a subsidiary of France’s energy giant TotalEnergies, has revised its plateau production timeline as ramp-up activities continue to ensure all fields will be up and running at full capacity at its natural gas redevelopment project in the Danish sector of the North Sea.

Following weather issues, the company changed its plans in December 2024, delaying the production from the remaining fields at the Tyra redevelopment project off the coast of Denmark to January 21, 2025.

However, TotalEnergies, as the operator (43.2%) of the Danish Underground Consortium, which also includes its partners BlueNord (36.8%) and Nordsøfonden (20%), has now amended the timeframe once again, pushing the plateau production to January 31, 2025.

“As commissioning and ramp-up of Tyra II production progresses during the winter season, weather conditions and minor operational occurrences are impacting the overall duration of the ramp-up period, which is now expected to be achieved during the second half of January 2025,” outlined the operator of Tyra, which is said to be Denmark’s largest natural gas field.

According to the firm’s partner, BlueNord, work is underway to replace a seal on a gas compressor. As a result, Tyra II is not currently running at full technical capacity. This will change once the work is done, as TotalEnergies expects full technical capacity to be achieved afterward. 

The efforts to reach full production capacity at the Tyra redevelopment project off the coast of Denmark have been ongoing since March 2024, when the first gas export from the Tyra II occurred, following the first production after the revamp.

Challenges related to two transformers supplying power to the vital gas compressors hindered the commissioning activities. As repairs moved forward, progress was made toward full technical capacity, which was anticipated by mid-November 2024, subject to remaining operational uncertainties.

The full technical capacity milestone was seen as a way to move forward with a gradual increase to maximum production before the end of the year, with gas production re-established from three of the six fields. However, operational challenges and adverse offshore weather conditions hindered the operator’s progress, with limiting weather windows delaying the reactivation of the Tyra satellite wells.

After this giant North Sea gas project has reached a production plateau, TotalEnergies believes its output will amount to approximately 6% of the European Union’s natural gas production, making Denmark a net gas exporter once again.

The company’s drilling activities, which were carried out last year with the Shelf Drilling Winner jack-up rig in the Harald East area, close to the Norwegian border, led to additional gas condensate resources in the Harald field in shallow waters 250 km off the west coast of Denmark.

TotalEnergies achieved the first production from the Harald East Middle Jurassic well in December 2024, expanding the plateau production duration at the Tyra hub. While the North Sea and Europe remain as part of the energy giant’s portfolio, the firm has also been busy with multiple projects elsewhere.

One of the firm’s most significant energy projects to reach a final investment decision (FID) last year was an oil development off the coast of Suriname, which comes with a price tag that surpasses $10 billion.