Statoil AS is nearing completion for upgrading the Snorre A platform, with the recent installation of a new module. The 455-tonne module includes a control room, kitchen, lifeboat station, and living quarters.
The Snorre A tension-leg platform is in the Tampen area off Norway and has been on stream since March 1992.
New module
Installation of the module, built by Leirvik Module Technology’s (LMT) at Stord, north of Stavanger, involved the Saipem 7000 crane lifting the module onto the northwest corner of the TLP (Fig. 1). Statoil says the module construction contract was worth about 125 million kroner and the contract for Sorco to perform hookup and commissioning was worth about 160 million kroner.
Personnel from Sorco and LMT prepared the platform for module installation for the last 6 months, according to Statoil. The work included clearing the site, removing one lifeboat, and reinforcing the deck.
Since mid-April, about 470 people have worked on upgrading the TLP, which included 45 projects, Statoil says.
Bjørn Nysted, acting project manager, says the new module was required because a revamp of the existing control room to current requirements would have been difficult and the old kitchen was in poor condition.
The new module has a new, modern kitchen, and consequently, Snorre A can accommodate more people and avoid expensive flotels that are not readily available, according to Nysted.
With 48 new cabins in the new module, Snorre A now has a total of 268 cabins to accommodate personnel.
Improved recovery
Snorre field is in Blocks 34/4 and 34/7. Water depth in the area is 300-350 m.
Statoil expects the upgrades at Snorre A to improve recovery factors from the field to 55% from the current estimated 46% and extend the field’s life another 25 years.
The increased recovery amounts to about 70 million bbl of oil, says Kjell Brustad, Snorre A platform manager.
Snorre A’s current production throughput is about 115,000 bo/d.
Companies with interest in Snorre include Petoro AS, 30%; Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS, 17.7672%; Statoil ASA, 15.5497%; ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS, 11.5849%; Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS, 9.60%; RWE Dea Norge AS, 8.2812%; Total E&P Norge AS, 6.1786%; and Hess Norge AS, 1.0384%.
