Norne

Norne Oil Field Profile

Location and Geology

• The Norne oil field is located in the Norwegian Sea, approximately 80 kilometres north of the Heidrun field, within blocks 6608/10 and 6608/11.
• The water depth at the field is 380 metres (or about 1,250 feet).
• The reservoirs are found in Jurassic sandstones, primarily in the Ile and Tofte Formations for oil, and the Not Formation for gas. The reservoir depth is about 2,500 metres, with good reservoir quality.

Discovery and Production

• The Norne field was discovered in 1992, and production began on 6 November 1997.
• The field has been developed using a production and storage vessel (FPSO), known as the Norne FPSO, which is tied into subsea templates on the seabed. Flexible risers carry the wellstream to the ship, which rotates around a cylindrical turret anchored to the seabed.

Production and Export

• The Norne field produces oil, gas, and natural gas liquids (NGL). As of the data available, the field has recovered over 700 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), including 400 million barrels of oil, 136 billion cubic feet of gas, and 3 million barrels of NGL.
• Gas from the Norne field has been exported since February 2001 through the Norne Gas Export pipeline and the Åsgard Transport trunk line to Kårstø in northern Rogaland County, and then to continental Europe, with a total distance of over 1,400 kilometres to the landfall in Dornum, Germany.

Infrastructure and Operations

• The Norne FPSO features a processing plant and multiple storage tanks for stabilised oil. The vessel is connected to several subsea templates; initially, production flowed from five subsea templates, but this has been expanded to 15 templates and 26 exploration wells over time.
• The field includes both production and water-injection wells. As of recent data, the field produces from 12 wells and has 7 water-injection wells.

Partners and Ownership

• The Norne field is operated by Equinor Energy (previously Statoil). The partners include Eni, Petoro, and other stakeholders. The ownership breakdown is approximately: Petoro AS (54%), Equinor ASA (now around 25% due to changes in ownership structure), Eni Norge AS (6.9%), and other minor stakeholders.

Expansion and Life Extension

• The field's life has been extended through several projects, including the Norne Satellites Project, which tied in the Stær and Svale fields to the Norne FPSO. Other significant projects include the Skuld fast-track project in 2013 and the ongoing Verdande development, which aims to extend the field's life beyond 2026 by utilizing spare capacity on the Norne vessel.
• The Verdande development, scheduled to start production in the fourth quarter of 2025, includes the 6608/10-17 S (Cape Vulture) and Alve North-East discoveries, containing a total of 36.3 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent.

Production Metrics and Future Outlook

• Peak production at the Norne field was achieved in 2001. As of recent estimates, the field has recovered about 95.11% of its total recoverable reserves. Based on economic assumptions, production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit around 2060.
• The recovery factor for the main field is high, standing at 56.5%, which is above the target and a top result worldwide. Continuous maintenance, improved recovery rates, and new discoveries have contributed to the extended lifespan of the field.

Technological Innovations

• The field has seen several technological innovations, including the installation of electric subsea control modules and the conversion of production manifolds to all-electric operations. These advancements have been part of Statoil's (now Equinor) strategy to enhance oil recovery and maintain efficient operations.

In summary, the Norne oil field is a significant production asset in the Norwegian Sea, known for its efficient operations, high recovery rates, and innovative technological implementations that have extended its productive life.