Nova

Nova Oil Field Profile

Location and Geology

The Nova oil field is located in the Quadrant 35 area of the Norwegian North Sea, approximately 17 kilometers southwest of the Gjøa field and 120 kilometers northwest of Bergen. The field is situated in the production licenses PL 418 and possibly extends into PL 378. The water depth at the site is roughly 370 meters.

The reservoir is approximately 2,500 meters deep and consists of oil with a gas cap in the sandstone of the Late Jurassic age, specifically within the Heather Formation of the Viking Group. The field is divided into three segments: Main, South East, and East, with the Main segment hosting the majority of the reserves.

Discovery and Appraisal

The Nova oil field was discovered in February 2012 by drilling the 35/9-7 wildcat well using the Songa Delta rig to a vertical depth of 2,976 meters. Two appraisal wells, 35/9-8 and 35/9-10 S, were drilled using the Transocean Arctic rig in April and November 2013, respectively. These wells identified a thicker reservoir and penetrated the oil-water contact, further confirming the presence of high-quality gas columns in the upper Intra Heather sandstone.

Ownership and Partners

The Nova oil field is operated by Wintershall Dea Norge, which holds a 45% stake in the project. Other partners include Capricorn Norge (a subsidiary of Cairn Energy) with 20%, Spirit Energy with 20%, and Edison Norge with 15%. Additional partners involved in the project include Sval Energi and Pandion Energy Norge.

Development Plan

The development plan for the Nova oil field was submitted by Wintershall Norge and its partners in February 2017, and the Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) was approved by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in October 2018. The field is being developed as a subsea tie-back to the Gjøa platform, which is operated by Neptune Energy. The development involves two 4-slot subsea templates, one for oil production and one for water injection, tied back to the Gjøa platform. The templates were installed in May 2019, and the project includes the installation of three production wells and three injection wells, with the flexibility to accommodate an additional subsea template.

Infrastructure and Production

The produced oil and gas are transported via 65km-long pipelines to the Gjøa platform for processing and exporting. The Gjøa platform, a floating semi-submersible facility, has a production capacity of 87,000 barrels of oil and 17 million cubic meters of gas per day. The processed oil is forwarded to Mongstad through the Troll Oil Pipeline II (TOR II), while the gas is exported to St Fergus, UK, via the Far North Liquids and Associated Gas System (FLAGS) pipeline.

Environmental and Operational Efficiency

The Nova field benefits from the sustainable electrification of the Gjøa platform, which is powered by hydropower from the Norwegian mainland. This setup contributes to low carbon-intensity production, aligning with Wintershall Dea’s goal to be net zero across its entire upstream operations by 2030.

Reserves and Production

The Nova oil field is estimated to contain recoverable reserves of approximately 80-90 million barrels of oil equivalent (Mmboe), with the majority being oil. Production from the field started in 2022, and peak production is expected in 2024. The field is anticipated to produce for about nine years, with production continuing until the field reaches its economic limit in 2038.

Economic Impact

The development of the Nova oil field involved an investment of NKR9.9 billion (approximately $1.1 billion). The field's production contributes significantly to Norway's daily oil output, accounting for approximately 1% of the country's daily production. The project also extends the economic lifetime and increases the profitability of the nearby Gjøa field.

Future Expansion

There is an associated expansion project, Nova IOR (Improved Oil Recovery), which is currently in the feasibility stage. This project aims to further optimize oil recovery from the field.

In summary, the Nova oil field is a significant subsea development in the Norwegian North Sea, leveraging existing infrastructure to enhance energy supply security in Europe while maintaining a focus on low-carbon production.