Aker BP kickstarts production from Kobra East & Gekko field ahead of schedule
Aker BP has declared that the production from Kobra East & Gekko (KEG) in the Alvheim region has commenced, significantly ahead of its initially projected timeline of the first quarter of 2024. This venture is a collaboration with ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS.
Remarkable Execution and Significant Achievements
Acknowledging the success, Aker BP’s CEO, Karl Johnny Hersvik, stated, “The KEG project execution is a fantastic example of what we can achieve with the alliance model, working as one team with our suppliers towards a common goal and with shared incentives.” He further emphasized Alvheim’s impressive legacy, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and consistent resource base expansion since its inception.
Moreover, Kobra East & Gekko not only achieved an early start-up but also remained within its allocated budget of NOK eight billion. Such efficient execution stems from the unity and innovation of all involved parties. Ronny Åsbø, the project manager for KEG, asserted, “This has really been a one team project where alliance partners and strategic suppliers have delivered safely and efficiently and with a continuous search for improvements.”
Aker BP and ConocoPhillips achieve early production from Kobra East & Gekko field in Alvheim area. Image courtesy of Aker BP.
Drilling Endeavors and Infrastructure Insights
The drilling dimension of the Kobra East & Gekko initiative is quite expansive, involving roughly 42 kilometres spanning four multi-branch wells beneath the seabed. Drilling expenses constituted a significant portion of the project’s investment. “The drilling performance at KEG has been world class. This has contributed significantly to the safely and successful ‘below budget and ahead of schedule’ deliveries,” remarked Åsbø.
Focusing on the infrastructure, the KEG encompasses the Kobra East and Gekko discoveries in license 203. It boasts subsea connections linked to the Alvheim field’s production vessel, known as Alvheim FPSO, situated close to the UK border in the central North Sea’s Norwegian territory.
Reserves and Future Outlook for Alvheim Field
The recoverable reserves from the KEG Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) are projected around 40 million barrels of oil equivalents (mmboe). Importantly, the KEG’s activation ensures reduced CO2 emissions per barrel and amplified oil production via Alvheim FPSO.
Highlighting the contributions of Kobra East & Gekko to Alvheim’s production legacy, Alvheim Director, Ine Dolve, mentions, “The KEG project adds important volumes to the existing production capacity at Alvheim FPSO and will enable extended lifetime up to 2040. The ongoing Tyrving project, which is estimated to come on stream in 2025, will add further production to the FPSO.” Dolve further envisions great potential in integrating new discoveries into the established infrastructure.
To put things in perspective, since Alvheim began its production in 2008, it has generated close to 600 million barrels of oil equivalent from the region.