Ærfugl Nord

Ærfugl Nord Oil and Gas Field Profile

Location

The Ærfugl Nord field is located in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea, approximately 210 km west of Sandnessjøen, and just west of the Skarv field. The water depth in this area ranges from 350 to 450 meters.

Discovery and Development

• The Ærfugl Nord field was discovered in 2012.
• The plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 2018.

Reservoir Characteristics

• The reservoir is situated at a depth of about 2,800 meters below the seabed and contains gas and condensate in sandstone of the Late Cretaceous age, specifically within the Lysing Formation. The reservoir quality is described as good.

Production

• Production from the Ærfugl Nord field started in 2021, with the field tied back to the Skarv production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO).
• The field is produced by depletion, and the well stream is transported to the Skarv FPSO for processing. The condensate is offloaded to shuttle tankers, while the gas is transported to the Kårstø terminal via an 80-kilometer pipeline connected to the Åsgard Transport System (ÅTS).

Reserves and Production Data

• Gas: Original recoverable reserves are approximately 3,020 million cubic meters, with remaining reserves of about 1,910 million cubic meters as of 2022.
• NGL (Natural Gas Liquids): Original recoverable reserves are around 4.52 million barrels, with remaining reserves of about 1.32 million barrels as of 2022.
• Oil: Original recoverable reserves are approximately 1.89 million barrels, with remaining reserves of about 1.13 million barrels as of 2022.
• Cumulative Production: As of 2022, the field has produced around 691.44 million cubic meters of gas, 0.43 million barrels of oil, and 0.46 million barrels of NGL.

Operational Details

• The field is developed with one production well tied back to the Skarv FPSO. The production has been slightly higher in 2023 than expected due to higher well productivity and uptime at the Skarv FPSO.

Ownership and Operator

• The field is operated by Aker BP ASA, with ownership shared among:
  • Aker BP ASA (30%)
  • Equinor Energy AS (30%)
  • Wintershall DEA Norge AS (25%)
  • PGNiG Upstream Norway AS (15%).

Technological Innovations

• While specific to the broader Ærfugl project, the development in the area has utilized advanced technologies such as more efficient reservoir drainage through new vertical X-mas trees and long-distance, electrically heated flow lines to avoid hydrates in the gas pipelines. These technologies are part of the overall strategy to improve efficiency and extend the lifetime of the Skarv field.

Environmental and Social Impact

• The production from the Ærfugl field, including Ærfugl Nord, has contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions per barrel produced from the Skarv FPSO by 30-40 percent.
• The project has also brought significant economic benefits to local suppliers in the Helgeland region.

Strategic Alliances

• The development of the Ærfugl project, which includes Ærfugl Nord, has been facilitated through strategic alliances such as the Subsea Alliance between Aker BP, Subsea 7, and Aker Solutions, the Semi-submersible Rigs Alliance between Aker BP and Odfjell Drilling and Halliburton, and the Modification Alliance between Aker BP and Aker Solutions. These alliances have been crucial in delivering the project on budget and ahead of schedule.

Digital Solutions

• A digital twin of the entire field has been created in collaboration with Cognite, which serves as a foundation for smarter operations and optimization of plans and operations. This includes a new control room with a simulator for testing new logistics and training of operating personnel.

In summary, the Ærfugl Nord field is a significant gas and condensate field in the Norwegian Sea, developed efficiently through advanced technologies and strategic alliances, contributing to both economic and environmental benefits.