Njord

Njord Oil and Gas Field Profile

Location and Site Details

• The Njord oil and gas field is located in the Norwegian Sea, approximately 30 kilometers west of the Draugen field and 130 kilometers northwest of the Norwegian municipality of Kristiansund.
• It is situated in blocks 6407/7 and 6407/10, with a water depth of 330 meters.

Discovery and Production History

• The Njord field was discovered in 1986.
• The plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 1995, and production commenced on September 30, 1997.
• Initially, the field was planned to remain in production until 2013, but due to improved oil recovery and new discoveries in the region, its economic life was extended. By 2016, the field had produced 167 million barrels of oil and 11 billion cubic meters of gas.

Field Development and Infrastructure

• The field development includes a floating steel platform, Njord A, which features an integrated deck with drilling, processing facilities, and living quarters. The platform is accompanied by the Njord B storage vessel (FSO).
• The oil produced is transported to the Njord Bravo FSO via a pipeline and then to the market by tankers. Gas is exported through a 40-kilometer pipeline connected to the Åsgard Transport System (ÅTS) and subsequently to the Kårstø terminal.

Reservoir Details

• The Njord field produces from three reservoirs: Tilje, Ile, and Åre. These reservoirs are composed of Jurassic sandstones and are approximately 2,850 meters deep.
• The field exhibits a complex fault pattern with partial communication between the segments, which has contributed to higher recoverable volumes than initially anticipated.

Partners and Ownership

• The field is operated by Equinor Energy, which holds a 27.5% interest. Other partners include Wintershall Dea Norge (50%) and Neptune Energy (22.5%).

Life Extension and Upgrades

• Between 2016 and 2022, the Njord A platform and the Njord Bravo FSO underwent extensive modifications and upgrades. The platform was towed to Kvaerner's yard at Stord for refurbishment, while the Njord Bravo FSO was towed to Kristiansund for similar work.
• These upgrades have extended the field's production life until 2040. The platform has been modified to enable tie-ins with the Bauge and Fenja fields, which have additional recoverable resources.

Electrification and Environmental Impact

• The Njord field is being partially electrified, with the Njord A platform set to receive 60% of its power from electricity supplied from shore via the Draugen platform. The Njord Bravo FSO will be fully electrified. This electrification is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by about 130,000 tonnes.

Contractors and Key Players

• Aker Solutions delivered the original Njord A platform and was involved in its modification. Kvaerner and Aibel also played significant roles in the upgrade and refurbishment of the platform and the FSO.
• Other contractors include Brevik Engineering for the engineering work on the FSO.

Production and Reserves

• Total production from the Njord field is expected to reach around 450 million metric barrels of oil equivalent (Mmboe), with residual production estimated at 180 Mmboe. The field originally had estimated reserves of 200 Mmboe, which have been increased due to additional resources from the Hyme field and the Snilehorn discovery.
• As of the latest estimates, the Njord field contains around 175 Mmboe of reserves.

Future Activities

• Future activities at Njord include drilling ten additional wells and further exploration of the area. The field will also serve as a hub for tie-ins with other nearby fields, such as Bauge and Fenja, which started production in April 2023.

Investment and Economic Impact

• The investment in the Njord field has been substantial, with around NOK 42.03 billion (approximately $4.25 billion) invested as of December 2020. The recent refurbishment project alone involved an investment of about 2.96 billion Euros (31 billion Norwegian Krone).

The Njord oil and gas field is a significant asset in the Norwegian Sea, with a prolonged production life and ongoing efforts to enhance its efficiency and reduce its environmental impact.