Statoil has informed that production from the Gullfaks South (GSO) fast-track project for improved oil recovery in the North Sea has started on July 27, 2015.

Statoil says that GSO will increase the output from the Gullfaks area by around 65 million barrels of oil equivalent.

“GSO demonstrates how we can increase recovery and profitability by use of standardised, simplified development solutions tied to existing infrastructure,” says Arild Dybvig, vice president for fast-track projects in Development & Production Norway.

Production started three years after the project was approved. According to Statoil, NOK 9 billion ($1.1 billion) have been invested in the project.

“Helping utilise spare processing capacity, the project extends the Gullfaks A platform life beyond 2030,” says Marit Berling, vice president for Gullfaks operations.

GSO represents Statoil’s focus on improved recovery, standardisation and industrialisation – in line with Statoil’s continuous effort of maximising value creation on the Norwegian continental shelf.

This project is part of Statoil’s fast-track portfolio, but the company says that it has a larger and more complex subsea scope than ordinary developments of this kind.

“Close to 800 vessel days and 2.3 million working hours have been completed with good HSE results. GSO is our most comprehensive fast-track project,” says Trond Bokn, vice president for subsea projects in Technology, Projects & Drilling.

The project also involved 370 drilling rig days. The drilling programme will continue through the first quarter of 2016.

GSO covers two subsea templates, four production wells, two gas injectors, a gas injection pipeline and a total of three production tubings, in addition to umbilicals and power cables for pipeline heating. There are a total of 22 subsea tie-ins.

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

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