Development, operation plan for Snorre expansion approved

Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has approved Equinor’s plan of development and operation (PDO) for the Snorre expansion project.

The Snorre expansion project – the largest project for improved recovery on the Norwegian Continental Shelf – involves a comprehensive subsea development, upgrading of the Snorre A installation, increased gas injection and gas import for injection.

“Equinor has worked closely with partners and suppliers to realize the development. I am pleased that the plan for development and operation has been approved,” said Margareth Øvrum, Equinor’s Executive Vice President for Technology, Projects and Drilling.

The Snorre field was originally estimated to produce until the 2011 to 2014 timeframe. Investments of more than NOK 19 billion will increase recovery from the Snorre field by almost 200 million bbl – from 46% to 51% – and extend the field life beyond 2040.

Scheduled to start production in 2021, the Snorre expansion project will be operated and maintained by the existing Snorre organization in Stavanger. Supplies will still be handled by Fjordbase in Florø.

The PDO calls for:

• 24 new wells, 12 for production and 12 for injection;
• A total of six new subsea templates for production and alternating water/gas injection;
• Pipelines and umbilicals between the subsea templates and Snorre A; and
• Upgrading of Snorre A to be able to receive production from the subsea templates and supply water and gas for injection to the subsea templates

Equinor estimates that around 80% of the investments in Snorre will be made by Norwegian companies. Based on analyses made by Agenda Kaupang, approximately 23,000 man years will be carried out in Norway in the project phase.

Subject to final regulatory approval, the partners have awarded contracts for the subsea production system to TechnipFMC, fabrication and installation of the pipeline bundle system to Subsea 7, Snorre A modifications to Aibel, drilling and well operations to Transocean and marine installations to Deep Ocean.

“The project will provide jobs in many places along the Norwegian coast and operation of the Snorre field for 25 more years,” said Arne Sigve Nylund, Equinor’s Executive Vice President for Development and Production Norway.

The Snorre field was discovered in 1979 and came on stream in 1992. The field is in the Tampen area in the northern part of the North Sea. Water depth is between 300 m and 380 m.