Statoil starts production from Gudrun field in Norwegian North Sea

Statoil ASA and partners have started oil and natural gas production from Gudrun field in the Norwegian North Sea (OGJ Online, Sept. 28, 2011).

Gudrun is the first new Statoil-operated platform to come on stream on the Norwegian continental shelf since 2005. “This is a red-letter day for the company,” said Arne Sigve Nylund, an executive vice-president.

Gudrun field lies in PL025 about 55 km north of the Sleipner installations. The platform will produce from seven production wells. Statoil expects to recover 184 million boe.

Statoil has 51%. GDF Suez E&P Norge has 25% and OMV Norge AS 24%.

Gudrun has a process facility for partial stabilization of oil and gas, which are transported to the Sleipner A platform. The oil is routed to Karsto, while the gas goes to European markets through gas pipelines tied in to Sleipner.

Some 112 km of pipeline have been laid, along with a 55-km power cable on the seabed between Gudrun and Sleipner.

The reservoir is at a depth of 4,200-4,700 m and originates from the Jurassic. Gudrun was discovered in 1975. Statoil said the “high temperature-high pressure field” required new drilling technology, which was “one of the reasons why these reserves were left in the bank for such a long time.”