The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has received a plan for development and operation (PDO) for the Maria oil discovery, according to a news release.

The Maria discovery, located in blocks 6407/1 and 6406/3 on the Halten Bank in the Norwegian Sea, is Wintershall’s first operated development project, the NPD said. The discovery is estimated to contain about 28.1 million standard cubic meters of oil equivalent, mostly oil, but also some associated gas and NGL.

Maria will be developed with a subsea production facility consisting of two subsea templates, both with room for drilling and completion of up to four wells, according to the plan. Two production wells and two water injection wells will be drilled from each template using a semisubmersible drilling facility.

The production facility will be tied back to the existing infrastructure in the area.

The well stream from Maria will be sent to the Kristin platform for processing and metering. The stabilized oil will then be sent to the Åsgard A production and storage ship for storage and offloading to shuttle tankers, the release said. According to the plan, the rich gas will be exported via the Åsgard Transport pipeline system to Kårstø in Rogaland County.

NPD added that the gas for well gas lift will be supplied from the Åsgard B platform via existing gas pipes to the Tyrihans subsea template on the Tyrihans field. Here, the lift gas pipeline for Maria will be connected. Water for pressure support will be supplied from the Heidrun platform.

Maria is located 230 km in a water depth of 300 m, and the reservoir is located about 3,800 m below the sea surface, NPD said in the release.

Wintershall Norge AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 50%. The other licensees are Petoro AS with 30% and Centrica Resources (Norge) AS with 20%, the release said.

Offshore