Yme project moves into hook-up phase following rig installation

Spanish oil and gas company Repsol has moved into the hook-up phase of the Yme development project located offshore Norway following the installation of a jack-up rig on the field.

Repsol received consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to use the Maersk Inspirer jack-up rig on the Yme field back in May 2020.

The consent covered connection, completion, and start-up preparations in conjunction with previously installed fixed facilities on the field.

OKEA, Repsol’s partner in the project, informed on Monday that the onshore work on the production unit for the Yme field – the Maersk Inspirer jack-up rig – has been completed and the rig has been installed at the field.

The Maersk Inspirer was built in 2004 and is a harsh environment HPHT jack-up of the MSC CJ70-150MC type.

As detailed by OKEA, following the sail away from the Aker Egersund yard, Maersk Inspirer reached its targeted position at the Yme field in the evening of 31 December 2020.

The jack-up process has been completed and Yme New Development project is now moving into the phase for hook-up, commissioning, and preparation for production startup.

According to OKEA, expected production start in 2021 remains unchanged and well within reach.

OKEA holds a 15 per cent working interest in the Yme field which is expected to add production of 7,500 boepd net to OKEA at a plateau, and 4,900 boepd net to OKEA on average over the first year.

Erik Haugane, CEO of OKEA, said: “This event represents a major milestone for the Yme New Development project and provides comfort to the targeted production start.

“Together with other ongoing projects, production from Yme will secure OKEA’s production growth in the years to come”.

Yme was discovered in 1987 located in Block 9/2 and 9/5 in the Egersund Basin, some 100 kilometres from the Norwegian coastline.

The field was in production from 1996 to 2001. The main reason for abandonment was the combination of high cost and low oil prices. Current licensees were awarded the rights to the blocks in June 2004.

A plan for development and operation for Yme re-development was approved in May 2007. This re-development was based on a lease of a production unit that was installed in 2011 but never completed and the platform was left de-manned due to significant structural defects.

The MOPU was removed from the field in August 2016 and handed over to the platform-owner.

In December 2017, Repsol submitted a revised PDO which was approved in March 2018.

The revised PDO was based on re-use of existing facilities to the extent possible, a new wellhead module on top of the existing caisson, and the lease of a mobile offshore drilling and production unit.