OREANDA-NEWS. Statoil and its partners have started production from the Vigdis North-East oil field located in the southern North Sea.

Vigdis North-East is the third project in Statoil's fast-track portfolio.

"The project adds new and valuable volumes for Statoil and its partners, and we have managed to meet the ambitious schedule and cost frames for this type of fast-track developments," says Edvin B Ytredal, head of Snorre, Tordis and Vigdis production.

"We have reached another important milestone in our fast-track portfolio through good cooperation in the licence and with the authorities."

Vigdis North-East is a reservoir structure located in the very north of the Vigdis field around seven kilometres south of the Snorre A platform.

The field development consists of a subsea installation comprising a template with four wells that are tied back to the existing Vigdis facility on Snorre A for processing.

37 million barrels

Total investment costs for the development are around NOK 4.3 billion.

Transport and export will be made via Vigdis through the Snorre A export system. The Vigdis North-East volumes are calculated at around 37 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Useful experience

"Fast-track developments give us knowledge that can be transferred to larger projects," says Helge E W Albertsen, AOR for the Vigdis North-East development.
 
"We are able to reduce the project execution time through standard solutions and deliveries. We look forward to continuing the good drive of our fast-track portfolio."

"Safety, quality and cost effectiveness have been strongly emphasised in the project execution period," says Kjetel Digre, head of project execution of the Technology, Projects and Drilling (TPD) business area.

"We have succeeded in delivering another fast-track project of good quality on time and budget. Good cooperation with our partners and suppliers has been an essential prerequisite for a successful completion of Vigdis North-East."

Facts about Vigdis North-East
Discovered: 2009
Production start: March 2013
Location: In the North Sea, 7 kilometres south-east of the Snorre A platform
Reservoir: Individual structures in the Vigdis/Snorre area with a reservoir pressure of around 370 bars
Volumes: 37 million barrels of oil equivalent
Depth: Water depth of 290 metres, and 2,600 metres below the seabed
Expected life: More than 15 years
Partners: Statoil (operator, 41.5%), Petoro (30.0%), ExxonMobil (16.1%), Idemitsu (9.6%) and RWE Dea (2.8%)