Statoil and its partners are investing NOK 1.6 billion in measures to sustain production on the Sleipner West field in the North Sea. The major contracts are now in place.
The Sleipner B platform’s compression capacity must be increased to compensate for dropping pressure in the reservoir. Without a new compression module production from the field would have declined from 2007. Efforts to ensure improved recovery, however, are underway. Three important contracts that are part of the compression project have now been approved. Production on Sleipner West is thus likely to continue until 2023.
”The compression project is essential to the successful achievement of Statoil’s gas ambitions on the Norwegian continental shelf,” says Synnøve Garborg, project manager, Sleipner B compression.
Thanks to the new compressor module production will be accelerated and enhanced in the years to come. Statoil expects compressor installation will boost production from Sleipner West by some 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas and 9.5 million barrels of condensate.
Commencing in May 2008 the compressor module installation will take three-four months. Vetco Aibel will be responsible for the module installation work. Worth NOK 700 million the contract covers work related to the engineering, construction, installation and testing of the 1100-tonne module.
In addition Statoil has awarded a contract this summer at a value of some NOK 70 million to the Italian company Saipem for module transportation and lifting.
The Sleipner licensees have also approved a contract with a price tag of NOK 250 million awarded to Prosafe for flotel services. The Sleipner B platform is normally unmanned. A flotel will therefore be required in the installation period, when almost 200 people will be working on the platform.