Skarv

Skarv Oil and Gas Field Profile

The Skarv oil and gas field is located in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea, approximately 35 kilometres southwest of the Norne Oil Field and about 200 kilometres west of Sandnessjøen.
The field is situated in water depths ranging from 350 to 450 metres.
The reservoirs contain gas and condensate in Middle and Lower Jurassic sandstones within the Garn, Ile, and Tilje Formations. There is also an underlying oil zone in the Garn and Tilje Formations. The reservoirs are divided into several fault segments and lie at a depth of 3,300 – 3,700 metres.

The Skarv field was discovered in 1998 by Amoco.
The plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 2007. At that time, BP was the operator, but it has since been transferred to Aker BP.
Production started on December 31, 2012.

The field is developed using a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO), which is one of the world’s largest gas processing vessels. The FPSO has a length of 292 metres, a breadth of 50.6 metres, and a depth of 29 metres. It has a hull weight of 40,600 tonnes and can accommodate 100 people in single cabins.
The FPSO has an oil production capacity of 85,000 barrels per day and a gas production capacity of 19 million cubic metres per day.
The field development includes five subsea templates with flexibility for new projects and 16 subsea wells. Gas is exported via an 80-kilometre-long pipeline connected to the Åsgard Transport System, which then transports the gas to the Kårstø plant in southern Norway.

The field is expected to produce around 125,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d).
The total recoverable resources include approximately 16.8 million cubic metres of oil and condensate and 48.3 billion cubic metres of rich gas. Nearly 80% of the recoverable resources are gas, with the remaining 20% being liquids.
As of recent updates, the field has recovered 61.22% of its total recoverable reserves, with peak production expected in 2025 and production continuing until the field reaches its economic limit in 2031.

The field is operated by Aker BP, with partners including Equinor, BASF (through Wintershall Dea), LetterOne Holdings, and PGNiG. The ownership stakes are approximately: Aker BP (nearly 24%), Equinor (36.2%), Wintershall Dea (28%), and PGNiG (just under 12%).

Key contractors involved in the project include Aker Solutions, Subsea 7, Corinth Pipeworks, Keppel, and Optime Subsea Services. Other notable contracts were awarded to Samsung Heavy Industries for the FPSO hull, Technip for flexible risers and associated equipment, Acergy for dynamic flexible risers and umbilicals, and Nexans for the direct electrical heating (DEH) system.

The Skarv area includes several satellite projects, such as the Ærfugl, Gråsel, Idun, and Snadd fields, which are connected to the Skarv FPSO. The start-up of Ærfugl phase 1 in 2020 and phase 2 in 2021 significantly increased production and reduced CO2 emissions per barrel produced from the Skarv FPSO.
In December 2022, Aker BP and partners submitted plans for the Skarv Satellite Project (SSP), which includes the development of the Alve Nord, Idun Nord, and Ørn discoveries. Each development comprises a 4-slot template and two wells, subsea tied back to the Skarv FPSO.

The start-up of the Ærfugl and Gråsel fields contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions per barrel produced from the Skarv FPSO by approximately 30% from 2022.
Aker BP is actively exploring the Skarv area to make new discoveries that can be developed and linked to the FPSO, aiming to extend the field's production period and reduce its environmental impact.

Aker BP plans to continue developing the Skarv area with several projects in the pipeline, including the Shrek, Idun Nord, Alve Nord, and Ørn discoveries. These projects aim to maintain and increase production levels over the next four to five years.
The ambition for the Skarv area extends to 2040 and beyond, with ongoing exploration and development activities to ensure the field's long-term viability.