Wintershall and the two license partners Petoro AS and Centrica Resources (Norge) AS have a preferred solution for the development of the Maria field in the Norwegian Sea: According to the solution, the reservoir would be linked to the already existing infrastructure nearby via an underwater installation.
Wintershall Norge has now submitted a development concept for the reservoir to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). This step does not mean that an investment decision has already been made.
The Maria field is located 20 kilometers east of the Kristin field and roughly 45 kilometers south of the Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea. The field’s estimated production volume is roughly 130 million barrels of oil and slightly more than 2 billion standard cubic meters of gas.
Connecting to existing infrastructure
After planning has been completed, the reservoir would be linked to the already existing Statoil infrastructure nearby via a so-called subsea tie-back. Based on this plan, the Maria field would be connected with the producing platform Kristin, Heidrun and Åsgard B via two templates located on the ocean floor. A corresponding development concept has now been submitted.
The license partners prefer a underwater installation as the most economical development solution. The project is now entering the technical planning phase, in which several detailed coordination studies will be conducted so that a development and production plan (PDO) can be set up and presented to the Norwegian government by next year.
Subject to the PDO’s approval and a positive investment decision, Wintershall expects the oil and gas to start flowing in 2018.
Press Release, November 25, 2013