Det norske Gets Nod for Alvheim Zone

PSA-Audits-Marathons-FPSO-Alvheim-for-Barrier-Management

The PSA has given Det norske a consent to use the existing facilities on the Alvheim, Vilje and Volund fields, and the new Bøyla field, in the North Sea.

The background to this consent is Det norske’s acquisition of Marathon Oil Norge AS and the company’s production licence assets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Marathon’s operatorship of the Alvheim, Vilje and Volund fields and the new Bøyla field will now be transferred to Det norske.

A change of operator entails the new operator applying for consent to use the facilities. This is because consent is an expression of the PSA’s confidence that the operating company is able to undertake operations prudently and in compliance with the regulations.

Alvheim is an oil and gas field in the central part of the North Sea, west of Heimdal and close to the boundary with the UK sector. The field includes three finds: 24/6-2 (Kamelon), 24/6-4 (Boa) and 25/4-7 (Kneler). Water depth in the area is 120-130 metres. The field has been developed using a production vessel, Alvheim FPSO, and subsea wells.

Oil from Alvheim is exported by tanker. Processed rich gas goes by pipeline from Alvheim to the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) pipeline system on the UK Continental Shelf.

The Vilje and Volund fields are developed using subsea wells which are tied back to the Alvheim FPSO production vessel. Bøyla is planned to be developed in the same way as Vilje and Volund, with planned production start-up in Q1 2015.