Statoil: Contracts in Place for Sleipner Enhancements

The Sleipner B platform’s compression capacity must be increased to compensate for dropping pressure in the reservoir. Without a new compression module, production from the field would decline from 2007 onward. Efforts to ensure improved recovery, however, are underway. Three important contracts that are part of the compression project have now been approved. Production on Sleipner West is thus likely to continue until 2023.

”The compression project is essential to the successful achievement of Statoil’s gas ambitions on the Norwegian continental shelf,” says Synnøve Garborg, project manager, Sleipner B compression.

Thanks to the new compressor module, production will be accelerated and enhanced for years to come. Statoil expects compressor installation will boost production from Sleipner West by some 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas and 9.5 million barrels of condensate.

Commencing in May 2008, the compressor module installation will take 3-4 months. Vetco Aibel will be responsible for the module installation work. The NOK700 million (US$111.7 million) contract covers work related to the engineering, construction, installation, and testing of the 1,100-tonne module.

In addition, Statoil has awarded Saipem a NOK70 million (US$11.2 million) contract for module transportation and lifting work.

The Sleipner licensees have also approved a contract with a price tag of NOK250 million (US$40 million) awarded to Prosafe for flotel services. The Sleipner B platform is normally unmanned. A flotel will therefore be required during the installation period, when almost 200 people will be working on the platform.