Work on the first of three subsea manifold installations for Aker BP’s Skarv Satellite Project (SSP) in the Norwegian Sea has begun, the operator announced Aug. 29.

Aker BP submitted to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy a Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for the SSP development along with two other projects in December 2022, and the project was approved in June. The SSP will extend the lifetime for the Skarv FPSO, which began production in 2013, to about 2040.

The NOK 17 billion ($1.7 billion) SSP is the largest development in the Norwegian Sea in recent years, and comprises the Alve Nord, Idun Nord and Ørn gas and condensate discoveries. Recoverable resources in the three developments are around 120 MMboe, mainly gas. Production start is planned for the third quarter of 2027.

Each of the developments consists of a subsea template with four well slots and two wells to be tied back to the Skarv FPSO located in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea. Development of the three discoveries is being coordinated by a unified project team to reduce costs through shared infrastructure.

Aker BP is using the company’s alliance model in the implementation phase, including the Subsea Alliance with Aker Solutions and Subsea 7, and the Modification Alliance with Aker BP and Aker Solutions. The Modification Alliance will carry out comprehensive modifications on the Skarv FPSO so it can receive production from the satellite developments.

License partners in Alve Nord include operator Aker BP with 68.1%, Wintershall DEA with 20% and PGNiG with 11.9%. Partners in Idun Nord include operator Aker BP with 23.8%, Wintershall DEA with 40% and Equinor with 36.2%. Partners in Ørn include operator Aker BP with 30%, PGNiG with 40% and Equinor with 30%.

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