The plan for development and operation (PDO) of the Nova oilfield – located about 120km northwest of Bergen, Norway – has been approved by the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, with first oil expected in 2021.

 

Wintershall Norge AS – Germany’s largest internationally active crude oil and natural gas producer – owns 35 per cent of the Nova field, and is the operator of the project. Its partners are Capricorn Norge AS – a fully owned subsidiary of Cairn Energy PLC (20 per cent), Spirit Energy (20 per cent), Edison Norge AS (15 per cent) and DEA Norge AS (10 per cent).

 

The approved development solution for the Nova field involves two subsea templates located on the ocean floor tied back to the nearby Gjøa platform, operated by Neptune Energy. 

 

An important landmark

 

“This is another important landmark for Wintershall Norge. We believe in Norway and we are showing again through the Nova development that we are prepared to back up our commitment with investment,” said Hugo Dijkgraaf, Wintershall Norge’s Managing Director. “Good dialogue with the Norwegian authorities is a crucial component of our success in this country. We regard this approval as recognition of our ability to deliver projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.”

 

The Nova field will be developed as a subsea tie-back connecting two templates to the Gjøa platform for processing and export. Gjøa will also provide lift gas to the field and water injection for pressure support. Power for the Nova field comes via the Gjøa platform from shore. This sustainable development solution is viewed as ‘a win-win situation’, by Wintershall. “Instead of building a new installation, the connection to the nearby platform will save costs for Wintershall and extend the economic life-time of the existing infrastructure,” the firm said in a statement.

 

Creating value in Norway 

 

“By developing this cost-efficient solution, we are tapping into experience we already have as operator of two underwater fields and are strengthening our position as an expert in subsea developments,” asserted André Hesse, Wintershall Nova Project Director. “At the same time, we are creating value for the partnership, our suppliers and the Norwegian society.” 

 

A significant number of contracts have already been awarded for the Nova project, notably the subsea production system to Aker Solutions, the contract for pipeline and subsea construction to Subsea 7, and the rig contract to Seadrill.

 

Third operatorship on the NCS 

 

Investment (capex) in the Nova development is estimated at around €1.1 billion. Meanwhile, the field’s recoverable reserves are estimated around 80 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), of which the majority is oil. Planned production startup for Nova is in 2021. 

 

Nova will be Wintershall Norge’s third operated subsea field, after Vega, which is also tied back to the Gjøa platform (of which Wintershall’s share is 20 per cent) and Maria in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). 

 

Nova was discovered in 2012 and is situated in the northeastern North Sea, 20km southwest of the Neptune Energy-operated Gjøa platform. Located in Quadrant 35, Nova profits from this region’s rich infrastructure. The Nova field is principally located in production license PL 418.