According to the operator Vår, estimated investments amount to NOK 19.6 billion. It is projected that this will boost estimated remaining reserves from the area by 21.6 million standard cubic metres of oil equivalent (136 million barrels).

The Balder field is situated just west of the Grane field. The field was proven in 1967, and the original PDO was approved in 1996. Production started in 1999.

Today, Balder is developed with subsea wells tied to a production and storage vessel, Balder FPU. The Ringhorne deposit, located directly north of Balder, is included in the field.

Ringhorne is developed with a combined living quarters, drilling and wellhead facility tied to the Balder ship and Jotun A FPSO for processing and storage of crude oil, as well as gas export.

Repairs and upgrading

In connection with the development project, called Balder Future, the plan calls for Jotun A FPSO to be taken to land for repairs and upgrading.

Balder Future also includes a new subsea system consisting of five subsea templates, each with a capacity of four wells, and also two satellite wells. The development will also facilitate tie-in of additional subsea templates.

The plan is to drill 13 production wells and one water injection well. That leaves eight available slots for future drilling on Balder.

Important with extend lifetime and increased recovery

“This is an important project to increase recovery from the Balder field, and to ensure good utilisation of existing infrastructure,” says Arvid Østhus, assistant director Development and operations in the NPD.

“We believe it is important to promote more investment in operating fields to extend lifetime and increase recovery from these fields.

The licensees have invested in new seismic and are planning to use modern drilling technology to realise the project. This shows that significant opportunities can still be found on existing fields by using newer technology and maximising data acquisition, also during the production phase. The licensees are now also facilitating tie-in of potential discoveries in a mature area with considerable ongoing activity,” says Østhus.

Vår Energi is the operator with an ownership interest of 90 per cent. Mime Petroleum is partner with an ownership interest of 10 per cent.