Njord Field Unveiled: Embarking on 20 Years of Prosperity
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
5 Jun, 2023, 1:10 am
In a momentous occasion, the Norwegian Sea's esteemed Njord field will be ceremoniously inaugurated today, 15th May, by Terje Aasland, the erudite Minister of Petroleum and Energy. Following extensive enhancements, both the platform and the floating storage and offloading vessel (FSO) now stand poised to extend the field's life, effectively doubling production and reinforcing Norway's role as a steadfast supplier of gas to Europe amid the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine.
"Amidst the tumultuous war in Ukraine, the imperative of Norwegian oil and gas exports to Europe has attained unprecedented significance. The reactivation of Njord fortifies Norway's position as a dependable and unwavering gas provider, poised to serve Europe for countless years to come," expounds the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland.
Initially commencing production in 1997 with an anticipated lifespan until 2013, the relentless pursuit of increased recovery has revealed substantial untapped reservoirs of oil and gas within the Njord field. Furthermore, the newfound discoveries within the vicinity can now be effectively harnessed and channeled via the Njord infrastructure for export.
In 2016, a remarkable feat was accomplished as the platform and FSO were skillfully detached from the field and towed ashore for comprehensive enhancements. A triumphant milestone was achieved on 27th December 2022 when production seamlessly resumed from the resurgent Njord field.
Doubling the field's lifespan merely represents the tip of the iceberg in terms of ambitions. The ultimate goal encompasses the doubling of production to match the cumulative volume of approximately 250 million barrels of oil equivalent already extracted from the Njord field.
An impressive ten new wells are slated for drilling on the Njord field utilizing an upgraded drilling facility. Past successes in the Njord area have paved the way for further exploration efforts in close proximity to the field, offering untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.
Additionally, the strategic integration of two new subsea fields with Njord has already come to fruition. The Equinor-operated Bauge field initiated production on 8th April, while the Fenja subsea field, under the auspices of Njord's partner Neptune Energy, commenced operations on 27th April. Collectively, the recoverable reserves from these two fields are estimated at a staggering 110 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Njord Fied Facts:
The esteemed licensees of the Njord field comprise Wintershall Dea Norge AS (50 percent), Equinor Energy AS (27.5 percent, and operator), and Neptune Energy Norge AS (22.5 percent). Exhibiting a remarkable Norwegian content of over 90 percent, the Njord Future project entrusted Aker Solutions with the primary responsibility for platform engineering and upgrading. The FSO engineering was expertly executed by Brevik Engineering, with Aibel overseeing the comprehensive upgrading process. Global Maritime and Ocean Installer skillfully orchestrated the marine operations.
A two-year delay impacted the production start at the Njord field due to unforeseen challenges that arose during the project, exacerbated by the disruptive effects of the pandemic. Consequently, the project incurred higher costs than initially estimated, with investment expenses surpassing NOK 31 billion (2022) as compared to the original NOK 17 billion outlined in the development and operation plan.
Located 30 kilometers west of Draugen and 130 kilometers northwest of Kristiansund in the Norwegian Sea, the Njord field thrives at a water depth of 330 meters. Discovered in 1986, Njord commenced production in 1997. The Hyme subsea field was successfully tied back to Njord in 2013.
Extracted oil is expertly piped to the Njord Bravo FSO and subsequently transported to the market via tankers. Gas from the field is efficiently exported through a 40-kilometer pipeline linked to the Åsgard transport system (ÅTS) and then onwards to the Kårstø terminal.