Neptune Energy Starts Drilling Production Wells at Fenja Field. First Oil in 1H 2023

Oil and gas company Neptune Energy has started drilling the first of four production wells on the Fenja field in the Norwegian Sea.

The wells are being drilled by the Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible rig, owned by CIMC, and operated by Odfjell Drilling.

Operated by Neptune Energy, the Fenja development consists of two subsea templates tied back to the Njord A platform via a production pipeline, water, and gas injection pipelines and an umbilical. The wells are planned as two oil producers, one water injector, and a gas injector. The gas injector will be converted to a gas producer towards the end of field life.

Neptune Energy’s Director of Projects & Engineering in Norway, Erik Oppedal, said: “This is the final phase of the Fenja development project which is located in a strategically important growth area for the business, with a number of other interesting prospects nearby. Norway is an important part of Neptune’s geographically diverse portfolio and this is an excellent example of the company’s commitment to investing in the region.”

• World’s Longest ETH Production Pipeline Installed Offshore Norway

The Deepsea Yantai rig is now set to drill into the reservoir sections, install the lower completions and execute well clean-up activities. The drilling work is estimated to take approximately 160 days.

Fenja is scheduled to come online in the first half of 2023 and will produce approximately 28,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at plateau.

Earlier this year, Neptune announced installed the electrically trace-heated (ETH) pipe-in-pipe solution which will transport oil from the Fenja field to the Njord A platform. At 37 kilometers, it is the world’s longest ETH subsea production pipeline.

The Fenja oil and gas field is situated at a water depth of 325 meters around 36 kilometers southwest of the Equinor-operated Njord A platform which will receive the Fenja fluids. Neptune holds a 22.5% owner share in Njord A which is located 120 kilometers north of Kristiansund. 

Neptune is the operator of the field with a 30% stake. Partners are Vår Energi, (45%), Suncor Energy (17.5%), and DNO (7.5%)