EQUINOR has confirmed that production has started from the Snorre Expansion project in the North Sea.
This major Increased Oil Recovery project will add almost 200 million barrels of recoverable oil reserves and help extend the productive life of the Snorre field through 2040.
The project was originally scheduled to come on stream in the first quarter of 2021.
The Snorre field partnership consists of Equinor, Petoro, Vår Energi, Idemitsu and Wintershall Dea.
Geir Tungesvik, Equinor’s executive vice president for Technology, Projects and Drilling, said: “I am proud that we have managed to achieve safe start-up of the Snorre Expansion Project ahead of schedule in such a challenging year as 2020.
“In addition, the project is set to be delivered more than NOK 1 billion below the cost estimate in the plan for development and operation (PDO),”
The Snorre field has been on stream since 1992.
In December 2017, Equinor and the Snorre partners submitted a modified plan for development and operation (PDO) for the Snorre field to Norwegian authorities.
The recovery factor will now be increased from 46 to 51 percent, representing significant value for a field with 2 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves.
The Hywind Tampen project, featuring 11 floating wind turbines that will supply the Snorre and Gullfaks fields with power, is expected to come on stream in the third quarter of 2022.
Some 35% of the power requirement for the two fields is expected to be met using wind power.
According to the original PDO, the Snorre field was intended to be closed in 2011-2014, but continues to produce thanks to the authorities’ consent to extend the field’s life.
The Snorre field partnership consists of: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 33.27 %, Petoro AS 30%, Vår Energi AS 18.55%, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS 9.6 % and Wintershall Dea Norge AS 8.57%.
