Johan Sverdrup’s Digital Operations Drive Efficiency, Safety

Abstract

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 30477, “Johan Sverdrup: The Digital Flagship,” by Paal Frode Larsen, Tor Tønnessen, and Florian Schuchert, Equinor, et al., prepared for the 2020 Offshore Technology Conference, originally scheduled to be held in Houston, 4-7 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2020 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. The sheer size of the Johan Sverdrup field development (expected recoverable reserves of 2.7 billion bbl, with projected operations of more than 50 years) has earned it designation as the operator’s digital flagship. The field has driven digital solutions and work flows that have the potential to be scaled up for the benefit of the operator’s entire portfolio. The complete paper describes the development of the “digital field worker” at Johan Sverdrup, an initiative that has changed the approach toward not only construction and completion but also operations. Introduction The field is approximately 150 km west of Stavanger in the North Sea in a water depth of 110-120 m (Fig. 1). The top reservoir is approximately 1800 m below mean sea level. The reservoir is characterized by hydrostatic pressure and undersaturated oil with a low gas/oil ratio. A predrilling campaign included eight oil producers and 12 injectors. Additional wells will be drilled to achieve the expected Phase 1 oil production capacity of 70,000 m3/d. The field has been developed in two phases. Phase 1 was approved by Norwegian authorities in 2015 and includes four bridge-linked platforms, all with jacket substructures. Primary power to the field is supplied from shore. The full field development includes 64 wells, both platform and subsea wells. The field came onstream in October 2019. Ramp-up of the predrilled wells proceeded smoothly to a field-production level of approximately 350,000 B/D. Phase 2 of the development was approved in 2019 and is expected to start production in Q4 2022. At peak, this field will account for approximately one-third of all oil production in Norway with record low emissions. The expected full-field (Phase 1 and 2) production capacity is 105,000 m3/d at peak. Breakeven price for the full-field development is less than $20/bbl.