Norsk Hydro will upgrade its estimated reserves on the North Sea's Troll oil field by 105 million barrels, boosting recoverable oil deposits in the acreage to 1.33 billion barrels.
Hydro said this is the result of the company's long-term work to increase Troll's oil recovery through the use of new technology. Troll is now the highest producing field in the Norwegian sector at an output rate of some 320,000 b/d.
As Troll operator, Hydro will continue investing in development of the acreage's oil zones. Plans include new investments of some $320 million during the next three to four years.
These new subsea structures with six wells will be installed. In addition, Hydro recommended to its Troll partners that 14 new production wells be drilled from existing sub-sea templates. A total of 20 new wells will be drilled in new sections of the field's oil zone.
The wells will add some 105 million barrels to Troll's total recoverable reserves. The new wells will be tied into the Troll C and Troll B production platforms. Oil in the Troll field lies in very thin layers under the natural gas strata.
Recovery of the oil has demanded development of radical new drilling and well technology. The new development work will include extensive use of lateral and long horizontal wells. Partners in the Troll oil field include Statoil, Shell, TotalFina Elf, Conoco and the state's direct financial interest.
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
