The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted ExxonMobil consent to start-up the subsea facility for production well 25/11-E-29 AH on the Balder field, nearly one week after the supermajor gained approval from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA).
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Balder FPSO, from ExxonMobil. |
The field, which is located in the central part of the North Sea in Block 25/11, some 190km northwest of Stavanger, was developed with subsea wells that are connected to a production and storage vessel, Balder FPSO. The oil is transported by tanker. The Balder oil field has been producing since 1999.
Originally, production was estimated to last until 2011. Partly as a result of the Ringhorne field being tied back to Balder FPU in 2006, ExxonMobil received consent to extend the facility's operating life to 2025.
Numerous upgrades to the Balder FPSO process and compression systems have been carried out during the last few years, resulting in significantly improved reliability. In 2015 the Balder FPSO processed 48,000 b/d; 33,000 bbl from the Balder field and 15,000 bbl from the Ringhorne field.
Seismic surveys in the Balder area were carried out in 2009 and in 2012 to prepare for a drilling campaign, which commenced in the first quarter of 2013 using the West Alpha semisubmersible drilling unit.
Until now, six new wells have been put into production, which has boosted production significantly, Exxon said. The drilling program has continued into 2016, and new wells will increase production.
In 2013, the PSA granted consent to use six new subsea wells on the field. ExxonMobil has now received consent to use yet another subsea well, designated E-29-AH. The well is around 3500m from Balder FPU.
ExxonMobil is the operator and sole licensee in production licence 001, where the Balder field is located.
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