The Johan Sverdrup field is once again increasing its daily production capacity, anticipated to reach around 500,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) by the end of the year – that is approximately 60,000 barrels more than the original basis when the field came on stream.
Norwegian-based energy company, Equinor, and its partners tested the plant capacity in November to verify a possible production rise. As the test results have been ‘very positive’ a production increase is called for by the end of 2020.
By then the production capacity will rise from today’s 470,000 to around 500,000 BOPD. The Johan Sverdrup field has had safe and stable operation since it came on stream just over a year ago.
Jez Averty, senior vice president for operations south in Development and Production Norway, said for the second time since the start-up the plant is able to increase its daily capacity.
“As Johan Sverdrup is a field with high profitability and low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a production rise is great news. The field has low operating costs, providing revenue for the companies and Norwegian society, even in periods with low prices,” Averty said.
The Johan Sverdrup field is powered from shore with very low CO2 emissions per barrel. Emissions during the field life are estimated at less than 0.7kg CO2 per produced barrel.
Phase 2 of the Johan Sverdrup field development is on schedule, and production start is on track for the fourth quarter of 2022.
The increase means that the Johan Sverdrup full-field plateau production capacity is expected to rise from 690,000 to roughly 720,000 BOPD.
The Johan Sverdrup field is using water injection to secure high recovery of reserves and maintain production at a high level.
“Based on the positive results of the capacity test where we produced at rates of over 500,000 BOPD, we are now working on solutions to increase the water injection capacity which should allow us to further increase daily production capacity beyond this level by mid-2021,” detailed Rune Nedregaard, vice president for Johan Sverdrup operations.
Project partners: Equinor: 42.6 per cent (operator), Lundin Energy Norway: 20 per cent, Petoro: 17.36 per cent, Aker BP: 11.5733 per cent and Total: 8.44 per cent.
More information on Johan Sverdrup:
Johan Sverdrup is the third-largest oil field on the Norwegian continental shelf, with expected resources of 2.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The ambition for the field is to achieve a recovery rate of more than 70 per cent.
Break-even for the full field development is below US$20 per barrel. Expected operating costs at plateau is below US$2 per barrel.
In the first year on stream Johan Sverdrup has produced oil worth around NOK 50 billion, i.e. around 130 million barrels of oil (based on an average price of US$40 per boe).
The Johan Sverdrup field came on stream on 5 October 2019 – more than two months ahead of schedule and with investment costs that were NOK 40 billion lower than the original estimate in the plan for development and operation (PDO).
Johan Sverdrup phase 2 includes the construction of a subsea production system, reconstruction of the existing riser platform and a new processing platform (P2).
Phase 2 will also accommodate a converter plant for shore-based power supply. The plant will distribute power to other fields on the Utsira High: Edvard Grieg, Ivar Aasen, Gina Krog and Sleipner. The four existing platforms on the Johan Sverdrup field are already receiving power from shore.
