Wintershall and its partners have submitted a Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for the Maria field in the Norwegian Sea to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

This is the first time Wintershall, as operator of the field, has submitted a PDO for a Norwegian development.

Today, Martin Bachmann, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of Wintershall, handed the document to the Norwegian Minister Tord Lien.

“We are well on track on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Making this investment decision to bring our own discovery Maria into production demonstrates our long-term commitment to Norway. Norway is a core region for us. And now Wintershall is moving its successful exploration portfolio towards development and production”, said Martin Bachmann.“We continue our growth strategy on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.”

The planned development solution for the Maria field involves two subsea templates located on the ocean floor tied back to several host platforms in the area. “By applying this innovative and cost-effective solution we make the development and production of the field possible – even in a challenging oil price environment. We are continuing to invest in profitable projects in our core business and core areas”, said Bachmann.

“This solution has clear benefits. By utilizing the existing infrastructure in the Haltenbanken area of the Norwegian Sea, the Maria partners have selected the most sustainable solution to realize the potential of the field”, added Bernd Schrimpf, Managing Director of Wintershall Norge.

Investments in the Maria development are estimated at around 15.3 billion NOK (100%), including development drilling. Recoverable reserves on the field are estimated around 180 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), of which the majority is oil. The planned production startup for Maria is end 2018, and the estimated production period is 23 years.

The Maria field is located approximately 20 kilometres east of the Kristin field and about 45 kilometres south of the Heidrun field in the Halten Terrace in the Norwegian Sea. Wintershall Norge is the operator of the license with a 50% share. Petoro has a 30% share and Centrica Resources (Norge) owns the remaining 20%.

Under the selected development solution, the Maria reservoir will be linked via a subsea tieback to the Kristin, Heidrun and Åsgard B production platforms. The Maria well stream will go to the Kristin platform for processing while supply of water for injection into the reservoir will come from the Heidrun platform and lift gas will be provided from Åsgard B via the Tyrihans D field subsea template. Processed oil will be shipped to the Åsgard field for storage and offloading to shuttle tankers. Gas will be exported via pipeline to the Åsgard Transport gas line to Kårstø.