Aker BP starts production in the Ivar Aasen field in the Norwegian North Sea

Aker BP has produced first oil from the Ivar Aasen field in the northern Norwegian North Sea.

Start-up was within budget and on schedule, four years after Det norske oljeselskap (now integrated into Aker BP) submitted the plan for development and operation.

CEO Karl Johnny Hersvik said: “As operator, we have completed the development in a challenging period for the industry.”

The field’s economic lifespan may be 20 years, depending on oil prices and production development. Aker BP claims to be applying modern technology to operate the field efficiently with low staffing, with operations run from a base in Trondheim.

Ivar Aasen field, around 175 km (109 mi) west of Karmøy, contains around 186 MMboe, excluding the 18-MMboe Hanz field, which will be produced under a planned phase two scheme.

The development spreads across five licenses, 001B, PL028 B, PL242, PL338 and PL457. Unitization of the licenses covers deposits in Ivar Aasen and West Cable, but not Hanz in PL028 B.

In line with the Norwegian government’s wishes development has been coordinated with the nearby Edvard Grieg field, operated by Lundin Norway. Oil and gas from Ivar Aasen is sent through a pipeline to the Grieg platform for processing and export.This platform also supplies lift gas and power to Ivar Aasen.

According to partner Wintershall, the Ivar Aasen platform can produce up to 68,000 boe/d.

Bernd Schrimpf, managing director, Wintershall Norge, said: “Wintershall can take this experience and apply it to our own-operated Maria and Skarfjell projects.”