ASN Delivers First Phase of Jahan Sverdrup PRM Project
Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) has recently installed and commissioned the first phase of the permanent reservoir monitoring (PRM) system for the Johan Sverdrup field, operated by Equinor in the North Sea.
The Optowave PRM system has acquired data during the first seismic data acquisition campaign at Johan Sverdrup.
This is the first oil field where the base line survey is performed before production start. Johan Sverdrup production started on October 5th, 2019.
The PRM system at Johan Sverdrup will be used to develop the drainage strategy, to optimize production and to plan the location of new wells to be drilled. Equinor has a target to achieve 70 percent oil recovery rate at Johan Sverdrup and the PRM system supplied by ASN will be a key enabler.
The PRM system at Johan Sverdrup is based on the Optowave technology developed by ASN Norway. ASN has mobilized its resources in Trondheim, Greenwich, Calais and Paris to complete the engineering, manufacturing and installation of the first phase of the Johan Sverdrup PRM in 2019.
Since the contract was awarded in January 2018, ASN manufacturing facilities in Trondheim, Greenwich and Calais have been ramping up to achieve the required production rates. Major investments have been made by ASN to develop a fit-for-purpose and effective marine installation methodology – including a custom-built TDM (Touch Down Monitoring) tool to control the seismic cables positioning during lay. All seismic stations have been installed within a target corridor of +/- 5m).
The Johan Sverdrup PRM system has recorded seismic data since mid-August 2019. Once captured, the data has been transferred to Equinor’s onshore processing centre.
The acquired active seismic is being processed in order to provide the license with acoustic images of the reservoir. These images will be used to characterize the reservoir and will be compared over the years to assess changes in hydrocarbon production. The interpretation of the PRM data wil contribute to an optimum oil recovery from the reservoir.
Alain Biston, President of Alcatel Submarine Networks, said: “We are delighted to continue our cooperation with Equinor. It was a significant industrial challenge to implement this phase 1 of Johan Sverdrup PRM prior to start of production, and ASN is proud to have successfully achieved this important milestone. We will continue to support Equinor in the fulfilment of its road map towards oil field and off-shore processes digitization, which is key to enhanced oil recovery.”
The Johan Sverdrup PRM system will be expanded in 2020 to cover a wider area, also including Stage II of the Johan Sverdrup field. Once completed, the PRM system at Johan Sverdrup will cover an area of 200 km2, becoming the largest system ever deployed.
