BP commences oil production from Valhall field's new platform, offshore Norway

OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY [29/01/13]

Image: Redevelopment will ensure production from the 
Valhall field complex until 2050. Photo courtesy of BP p.l.c.
(SOURCE: offshore-technology.com)

BP has commenced oil production from the recently redeveloped Valhall oil field, found in the southern part of the Norwegian North Sea.

The newly developed facilities, including a manned platform, are expected to build up to the production to around 65,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (bpd) in the second half of 2013.

BP group chief executive Bob Dudley said that the redevelopment of Valhall project is a crucial investment in the company's North Sea portfolio.

"It is one of BP's most complex field expansion developments and gives Valhall a further 40-year design life with the capacity to handle 120,000 barrels of oil and 143 million cubic feet of gas per day," Dudley added.

As part of the redevelopment, which is likely to ensure production from the field until 2050, BP had mounted a new production, utilities and accommodation platform on a fixed steel jacket and a power-from-shore system.

"The 100% power-from-shore system helps the oil field to bring down the direct emissions in to the air to near zero, claimed BP."

In addition to these, an external system of bridges and walkways were built to link up the new platform to the existing Valhall complex, and an integrated operating environment was set up to provide a connection between onshore and offshore personnel.

Post-redevelopment Valhall field became fully powered from the shore through a 294-kilometre direct-current cable from Lista, making it the first field offshore Norway and within BP's portfolio, to use such a system.

The 100% power-from-shore system helps the oil field to bring down the direct emissions in to the air to near zero, claimed BP.

BP Norway's managing director Rebecca Wilessaid: "The re-development of this giant field over the past few years underpins a long future for Valhall. It is a further demonstration of our commitment to our business here in Norway."

In addition to the newly built platform, the field comprises of five more separate manned platforms, and two unmanned flank platforms, each located about six kilometres away from the main facilities.

The Valhall field complex, which was discovered in 1975, is operated by BP Norway with 35.9% working interest. Hess Norge is the major stakeholder of the field with 64.1%.