Draugen

Location and Geology

• The Draugen oil field is located in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea, approximately 140-150 km off the coast of Norway and 200 km south of the Arctic Circle.
• The field is situated in block 6407/9 within the Haltenbanken oil and gas province, at a water depth of 250 meters (800 feet).

Discovery and Development

• The Draugen field was discovered in 1984 by the wildcat well 6407/9-1. Following the discovery, several appraisal wells were drilled between 1984 and 2003 to delineate the reservoir.
• The plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 1988. Production commenced in October 1993.

Reservoirs

• The main reservoir is the Rogn Formation, a Late Jurassic sandstone deposit, interpreted as a shallow marine sand bar. This reservoir is located at a depth of approximately 1,600 meters (5,200 feet).
• A secondary reservoir is the Garn Formation, a Middle Jurassic sandstone deposit located in the western part of the field. Both reservoirs are of good quality and relatively homogeneous.

Field Development and Infrastructure

• The field was developed using a fixed concrete gravity base structure with integrated topside facilities. The platform features a unique monopod design with a reinforced concrete shaft and integrated topside decks.
• The facility includes storage tanks at the base of the structure and is connected to a floating loading buoy via two pipelines. Oil is exported by tankers, while associated gas is transported via the Asgard Transport System to the Karsto terminal.
• Initially, the field was developed with five subsea wells connected to the central platform. Currently, it has six platform wells and eight subsea wells, with 11 of these being production wells. There are also six subsea water injection wells.

Production

• Production from the Draugen field began in October 1993. The initial plateau production rate was planned at 14,300 standard cubic meters of dry oil per day (approximately 90,000 barrels of oil per day).
• As of recent data, the field yields more than 17,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from the 11 production wells.

Current Status and Future Plans

• The field is currently operated by OKEA ASA, which acquired Shell’s 44.56% interest in 2018. Other partners include Petoro (47.88%) and M Vest Energy (7.56%).
• Several initiatives are underway to extend the field’s operational life, including the use of power from shore, which is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 200,000 tons per year. This project, started in 2023, aims to be completed by 2026 and could extend the field's life by an additional 20 years.
• The Hasselmus gas discovery, which began production in 2023, has added significant production capacity to the field, contributing over 4,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day (boepd).

Environmental and Safety Considerations

• There have been minor incidents, such as a small oil spill in January 2008 due to a pipe break during tanker loading. However, the spill was minimal and largely evaporated before being contained.
• OKEA has an ambitious decarbonization strategy, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The electrification project is a key component of this strategy.

Technological Innovations

• The Draugen field has been a technological pioneer, particularly in its use of concrete in deep water and demanding weather conditions. The field has also benefited from the use of 4D seismic technology to enhance production.
• The platform's design and maintenance have been praised for their innovative approach and the dedication of the teams involved over the years.

Ownership and Stakeholders

• OKEA ASA is the current operator, with significant stakes held by Petoro and M Vest Energy. Bangchak Group, through BCPR, is a major investor in OKEA ASA.

In summary, the Draugen oil field is a significant and technologically advanced oil and gas project in the Norwegian Sea, known for its innovative design, efficient operations, and ongoing efforts to extend its production life while reducing its environmental impact.