Early Symra startup boosts North Sea production for Aker BP, partners

(WO) — Aker BP has started oil production from the Symra field in the North Sea, bringing the project online nine months ahead of schedule and advancing development in the Eiga area offshore Norway.

The field, located about 7 km northeast of the Ivar Aasen platform, has been developed as a subsea tieback with four wells connected via a subsea template. Production is partially processed at Ivar Aasen before final processing at the Edvard Grieg platform.

Symra is estimated to contribute approximately 60–63 MMboe in gross recoverable resources and represents the first development of a Zechstein carbonate reservoir on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The project also required modifications to both the Ivar Aasen and Edvard Grieg platforms to enable tie-in of subsea infrastructure and increase processing capacity.

“Symra shows what’s possible when strong partners work as one: safe delivery, high quality and faster execution,” said Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP. “It’s also a step into a new part of the Eiga area and a new reservoir type on the Norwegian shelf.”

Aker BP operates the field with a 50% interest, alongside Equinor (30%) and DNO (20%). For DNO, Symra is expected to deliver approximately 4,000–5,000 boed net at plateau.

The development was executed in collaboration with multiple suppliers, including TechnipFMC (subsea systems), Moreld Apply and Aibel (platform modifications), and Odfjell Drilling and Halliburton (drilling operations).

Symra is the sixth Aker BP-operated project sanctioned in 2022 to come on stream, supporting continued production growth across the North Sea.