Statoil is today, on behalf of the Snorre Unit partners, submitting the plan for development and operation (PDO) of the Snorre Expansion Project to the authorities. At the same time, contracts worth up to NOK 9 billion will be awarded.
The investment will increase recovery from the Snorre field by close to 200 million barrels.

“Snorre Expansion has been a marginal project, and Statoil has worked closely with partners and suppliers to realise it. We have finally arrived at a good concept utilising existing infrastructure and reducing costs,” says Margareth Øvrum, executive vice president for Technology, Projects and Drilling.

“In 2017, we have benefitted from a comprehensive improvement effort by Statoil and suppliers, and we have succeeded in realising development plans for Njord, Bauge, Johan Castberg and now Snorre Expansion, leading to investments of NOK 90 billion on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) and important activity for the industry,” says Øvrum.

The Snorre field is important in our effort of increasing long-term value creation and activity on the NCS. The life of Snorre A was originally expected to last until 2011–2014. Now the Snorre field is expected to produce beyond 2040.

“Long-term activity and value creation on the NCS is central in our strategy. Snorre Expansion is the largest improved oil recovery project (IOR) on the NCS, and provides valuable production and activity benefitting the company, partners and society. Investment costs slightly exceed NOK 19 billion, and the PDO involves a comprehensive subsea development, upgrading of the Snorre A installation, increased gas injection and gas import for injection,” says Arne Sigve Nylund, Statoil’s executive vice president for Development and Production Norway.

In addition to the PDO being submitted today, Statoil is also signing contracts for the subsea production system with TechnipFMC, fabrication and installation of the pipeline bundle system with Subsea 7, modification work on Snorre A with Aibel and a rig with Transocean. All contracts are subject to final approval of the PDO by Norwegian authorities.

“During the past years, Norwegian suppliers have demonstrated both a will and ability to change. Due to enhanced competitiveness, Norwegian industry plays a key role also in the Snorre Expansion project. We estimate that 80 percent of the investments will include companies in Norway. Competitiveness has a short shelf-life however, and it is vital that the improvement work continues with unabated strength,” says Øvrum.

Based on analyses from Agenda Kaupang, around 23,000 man-years will be carried out in Norway in the Snorre Expansion Project phase.

Snorre Expansion plans to start production in 2021, and will be operated and maintained by the existing Snorre organisation in Stavanger, while supplies will still be handled by Fjordbase in Florø.

Partners in the Snorre field are: Statoil Petroleum AS (33.27%), Petoro AS (30%), ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS (17.44%), Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS (9.6%), DEA Norge AS (8.57%) and Point Resources AS (1.1%).

About Statoil

Statoil ASA (OSE: STL, NYSE: STO) is an international energy company with operations in more than 30 countries, present in several of the most important oil and gas provinces in the world. Building on more than 45 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, we are committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. Statoil is among the world's largest net sellers of crude oil and condensate, the second-largest supplier of natural gas to the European market, and we also have substantial processing and refining operations. Statoil’s equity oil and gas production is around 2 million barrels oil equivalent per day. Statoil has contracted a fleet of around 90 ship for transportation of oil and LNG.
Statoil is headquartered in Norway with 21,000 employees worldwide, and is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.