Goliat field set for production boost as Vår Energi files gas export PDO

(WO) — Vår Energi has submitted an amended Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for the Goliat Gas Export (GGE) project in the Barents Sea, aiming to increase oil recovery and extend the field’s productive life.

The project, developed in partnership with Equinor, will enable export of associated gas currently reinjected into the reservoir. By optimizing reservoir management, the development is expected to support higher oil production, with incremental volumes marketed from startup.

Gas will be transported via new subsea infrastructure connecting the Goliat FPSO to the Snøhvit system and Hammerfest LNG under a gas bank arrangement, allowing volumes to be processed and sold as capacity becomes available.

The GGE project is targeting development of approximately 112 MMboe of proved plus probable (2P) reserves, with first production expected in the third quarter of 2029. The project is also expected to extend the operational life of the Goliat field by around 10 years, to approximately 2050.

Development scope includes installation of a 12-km gas export pipeline, subsea umbilicals and riser systems, along with modifications to the Goliat FPSO to integrate the new infrastructure.

Vår Energi said the project will also support future tie-in opportunities in the area, including the Goliat Ridge development, while expanding export infrastructure in the Barents Sea.

Total investment is estimated at approximately $360 million (gross), with project economics aligned with the company’s targets. The Goliat field is fully electrified from shore, and the gas export project is not expected to add incremental CO₂ emissions.