Aker BP has officially initiated oil production from the Symra field in the Norwegian North Sea, bringing the project online nine months earlier than originally planned. This early start is expected to unlock considerable value while advancing the production timeline into 2026. The Symra field is projected to deliver approximately 63 million barrels of oil equivalent to the Eiga area, reinforcing its importance within the company’s broader development portfolio. Positioned around 7 kilometers northeast of the Ivar Aasen platform, the field has been established as the second subsea tie-back to this facility, with partial processing taking place at Ivar Aasen before final handling at Edvard Grieg.
The development of the Symra field includes four wells connected through a subsea template, forming a key component of the infrastructure expansion in the region. To support this integration, Aker BP has implemented modifications on both the Ivar Aasen and Edvard Grieg platforms. These upgrades were necessary to enable the tie-in of subsea infrastructure and to enhance processing capacity at Edvard Grieg. Notably, Symra marks the sixth Aker BP-operated project sanctioned in 2022 to reach production.
“Symra demonstrates what’s possible when strong partners work together: safe delivery, high quality, and faster execution,” said Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP. Additionally, it creates value for partners, shareholders, and society by entering a new region of the Eiga region and a new type of reservoir on the Norwegian shelf.
Execution of the project has involved close coordination with multiple suppliers. TechnipFMC was responsible for delivering the subsea systems, while Moreld Apply carried out modifications on the Edvard Grieg platform. Aibel, in turn, handled the required upgrades on the Ivar Aasen platform. Drilling operations for the Symra field were conducted by Odfjell Drilling and Halliburton as part of the Norwegian operator’s drilling and wells alliance, contributing to the project’s safe and efficient delivery.
In parallel, Aker BP continues to advance other developments, including the Utsira High project, which comprises two subsea tie-in initiatives and incorporates Solveig in the central North Sea. Solveig Phase 2 has been designed for connection to the Edvard Grieg platform. Aker BP operates the Symra field (PL167/167B/167C) alongside partners Equinor (30%) and DNO Norge (20%).
