Boost for Norwegian Aerfugl Field Output: PGNiG
Three more production wells than planned will be drilled next year into the Aerfugl field offshore Norway, the Polish partner PGNiG said November 20, as there is more capacity now on the floating production, storage and offtake (FPSO) vessel serving the Aker BP-operated Skarv field moored 21 km away. This means that output will be bigger from 2020, it said.
“All partners on this licence want to start production from this field as soon as possible. So we are pleased that we will implement some part of the plan sooner. Economically, Aerfugl is one of the most attractive deposits on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. As stated by its operator, the so-called break-even here is $15/barrel of oil equivalent (boe)," said PGNiG CEO Piotr Wozniak.
The field development plan has been divided into two phases with three wells in each. Production start from the first three wells is planned for the fourth quarter of 2020. Production from the first borehole in the second phase should also start in 2020. Before the increase in the FPSO, completion of the second phase of deposit development had been planned for 2023.
Aerfugl is a gas-condensate field with recoverable reserves estimated at 274.7mn boe. According to the plan, PGNiG's output from this field at plateau will be about 0.5bn m³/yr, which will flow to Poland through the Baltic Pipe.
Two new technical solutions will be used to develop the field, it said. The first will be electrical trace and heating of the pipe-in-pipe required to prevent risk of gas hydrates forming and constricting the flow of gas during transport to Skarv FPSO. The second solution will be the world’s first 7” Vertical Xmas Trees which are required due to expected high flowrates.
PGNiG has 11.92% of the licence, which it acquired in 2007. Its operator is Aker BP and the other partners are Equinor Energy and Wintershall DEA.