NPD sends assesment of Gullfaks development plan to government
STAVANGER, Norway -- Gullfaks field, one of the major cash cows on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, which has been producing for nearly 30 years, is facing further investments to boost production and extend its productive life.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has now submitted its assessment of the amended Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for Gullfaks, including Shetland/Lista Phase 1, to Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
The amended PDO concerns production from the Shetland group and Lista formation, which are situated above the main reservoir.
Test production has already been under way for a few years. It is expected that 20 MMbbl can be produced during this phase from Shetland/Lista. The reason for an amended plan is that production from Shetland/Lista was not included in the original development plan approved by the Storting—Norway’s parliament—in 1981.
High pressure
According to the new plan, NOK 1.8 billion will be invested in reusing existing wells on Gullfaks field for production from Shetland/Lista.
Shetland/Lista was originally not considered to be a reservoir, but subsequent developments have shown that recoverable oil is present. These zones, which are above the actual main reservoir on Gullfaks, are under natural high pressure, which makes it challenging to drill wells on Gullfaks. Production from Shetland/Lista could thus make it easier to drill future wells on Gullfaks field.
Extensive amounts of data will also be collected, which may provide a basis for subsequent phases of production from Shetland/Lista.
