Breidablikk

Breidablikk Oil Field Profile

Location and Geology

• The Breidablikk oil field is located in the central part of the North Sea, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Grane field, and west of Haugesund, Norway. It is situated in a water depth of 130 meters.

Discovery and Development

• The Breidablikk field was discovered in 1992. After several years of planning and development, production began on October 20, 2023, four months ahead of the scheduled start date and within budget.

Reserves and Production

• The field holds significant reserves, estimated at around 30 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil, which is approximately 190 million barrels of oil.
• Production is expected to reach a plateau level from 2024 to 2026, with an estimated daily production of 55-60,000 barrels of oil.

Infrastructure and Technology

• The Breidablikk field is developed as a purely subsea project, utilizing 22 oil-producing wells drilled from four subsea templates. The field is tied back to the existing Grane platform for processing, and the oil is then piped to the Sture terminal in Øygarden before being shipped mainly to Europe.
• The project employs advanced subsea technology, automated drilling processes, and digital solutions to monitor production from Equinor's integrated operations centre at Sandsli in Bergen. A separate cable for electric power and fiber optic communication has been installed, facilitating the use of subsea drones and reducing future development costs.

Partnership and Ownership

• The Breidablikk project is operated by Equinor Energy AS, which holds a 39% stake. Other partners include Vår Energi ASA with 34.4%, Petoro with 22.2%, and ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS with 4.4%.

Economic and Social Impact

• The project has had significant ripple effects in Norway, with more than 90% of the contract value going to suppliers with a Norwegian billing address. Key suppliers include Odfjell Drilling in Bergen, Aker Solutions from Egersund, Wood Group in Sandefjord, and TechnipFMC from Orkanger.
• The total investment in the project is expected to be just over NOK 21 billion (2023 value). The development is highly cost-effective and will help extend the productive life of the Grane field, supporting approximately 1000 jobs until around 2060.

Environmental Considerations

• The Breidablikk development has been designed to minimize climate emissions. By utilizing existing infrastructure and subsea solutions, the project has achieved significantly lower emissions compared to similar developments.

Operational Highlights

• The project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, reflecting the efficiency and competence of the Norwegian petroleum industry. Nearly five million working hours have been invested in the project.
• The field's production will be monitored and optimized using high-tech digital tools, ensuring high value creation from the wells.

In summary, the Breidablikk oil field is a significant addition to Norway's oil production, leveraging advanced technology, existing infrastructure, and local expertise to ensure a cost-effective and environmentally conscious development.