Aker BP On Track For Ivar Aasen Startup In December

Aker BP CEO Karl Johnny Hersvik told Reuters on the sidelines of an industry conference on Nov. 29 that the company plans to start production at the Ivar Aasen oil field in the North Sea offshore Norway in December.

IP is expected to be about 35,000 bbl/d 2017, rising to a maximum of 70,000 bbl/d in 2018.

The field is being developed with a manned production platform above the Ivar Aasen reservoir and a subsea installation on the Hanz reservoir, which is tied to the Ivar Aasen platform with a flowline and umbilical system, according to Aker BP. Ivar Aasen is being developed in two phases—the Ivar Aasen and West Cable deposits make up Phase 1, while the Hanz deposit will be developed in Phase 2.

Aker BP is the operator of the field. Partners are Statoil Petroleum, Bayergas Norge, Wintershall Norge and VNG Norge, Lundin Noway and OKEA.

Jacobs Wins Contract From Shell For GoM Platform

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has been awarded a contract from Shell Offshore Inc. for its Vito host project in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is delivering a FEED package and detailed engineering for the Vito host platform topsides.

Vito is located in more than 1,219 m (4,000 ft) of water in the Mississippi Canyon area of the GoM. The Vito host will initially handle production from the Vito subsea field being subsequently developed, with potential for future tiebacks from other fields.

Stella Startup Pushed To 2017 Due To Electrical Junction Boxes Issues

Faults on several electrical junction boxes on the FPF-1 floating production facility for the Stella Field development were identified during routine inspections, pushing the anticipated field startup to early January 2017, Ithaca Energy said in a Nov. 25 update.

The company said that a program for necessary repairs is underway. In October the company said first hydrocarbons from the field were expected in November 2016.

“The safety and integrity of the facility is paramount, and we must ensure that everything is done meticulously in advance of the introduction of hydrocarbons into the facility,” Ithaca CEO Les Thomas said in a company statement. “Although any delay to startup at this stage is frustrating, the value of a thorough inspection program has been proven, and we look forward to completion of this work and the imminent startup of production.”

Other than this issue, offshore commissioning activities for the floater are “well advanced and preparation for startup of the Stella Field is ongoing,” Ithaca said.

Startup is anticipated in early January 2017, upon completion of this additional work.

Failed ESPs Prompt Avouma Workover Offshore Gabon

Vaalco has mobilized a hydraulic workover unit onto the Avouma platform offshore Gabon where it is working to replace failed electric submersible pumps (ESPs), the company said in a news release.

The failed ESPs will be inspected by the original equipment manufacturer, which also installed the ESPs, to determine what caused the failures.

First Oil Flows From Scolty/Crathes In UK North Sea

EnQuest reported that first oil has been delivered Nov. 21 from the Scolty/Crathes development in the U.K. North Sea ahead of schedule and under budget.

“Unit operating costs are expected to be under $15/bbl in the initial peak volume years, and production is anticipated to continue until 2025,” EnQuest CEO Amjad Bseisu said in a news release.

The Scolty and Crathes fields are estimated to hold up to 15 MMbbl of oil reserves. The development plan for the fields consists of two single horizontal wells tied back over via subsea pipeline 25 km (15.5 miles) in a “daisy chain” fashion to the Kittiwake platform in the Greater Kittiwake Area, the release said. Oil from Scolty and Crathes will be exported via the Forties Pipeline System.

EnQuest said Scolty/Crathes represents a key component in its hub model for Kittiwake and extends the economic life of the Greater Kittiwake Area into the next decade.

EnQuest holds a 50% interest, with MOL Growest (II) Ltd. holding the other 50%.

—Staff Reports