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Full speed ahead on Johan Sverdrup NORWEGIAN SHELF A JOURNAL FROM THE NORWEGIAN PETROLEUM DIRECTORATE NO 1 - 2017 1-2017 NORWEGIAN CONTINENTAL SHELF | 1 More to gain Sub-surface The 50th anniversary of the start to oil and Johan Sverdrup was disco- gas production from the NCS is approaching vered with the aid of mas- with less than half the resources recovered. ses of existing geological Overall resources, including the estimate for PAGE data which were re-inter- those as yet undiscovered, have increased by preted, says Hans Christen more than 40 per cent since 1990. Photo: Emile Ashley Rønnevik. Over the past two months, we have pre- Foto: NTB scanpix 20 sented two reports which underline the big remaining oil and gas potential. In our latest resource report for fields and discoveries, entitled with good reason Value for the future, we point to the huge quantities of oil and gas already proven and awaiting Rockshot production. At 31 December 2016, 77 discoveries The photo in this issue were being assessed for development. And PAGE hails from Wilhelmøya more can be produced from existing fields – a remote area of through improved recovery measures. A Photo: Alexey Deryabin 23 Svalbard. huge potential exists for using enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. Further details and the size of the vol- umes involved can be found in the resource PAGES report, which has been published at www. npd.no. NPD profile What is required to realise this value? Photo: Rune Solheim 12-22 Pressure from the NPD First, the companies must take investment has been crucial for decisions on projects which have already PAGE getting out the extra been identified. Halfway The first development stage on Johan Sverdrup has reached its midpoint. Hilde Second, the industry must collaborate Anita Arntsen (left) and Renate Eikeland are part of the workforce at Aker Stord, one of 20 resources in Snorre, to exploit existing infrastructure and adopt fabrication sites for the platforms. Photo: Monica Larsen 24 says Tomas Mørch. available technology. The NCS has been a laboratory for testing new technical solu- tions. It must now become a front runner in applying them. Our report on Barents Sea North-East More resources was published in May. New mapping of this Snorre Expansion will area has doubled the earlier estimate of yield almost 190 mil- resources for the whole Barents Sea. This lion extra barrels of report is also available on our website. PAGE oil – making this one of Our job is to maintain an overview of oil PAGE PAGE and gas resources across the whole NCS. So Norway’s biggest impro- we also map areas not open for petroleum Photo: Harald Pettersen/Statoil ved recovery projects. Photo: Sverre S Jarild 4 Photo: Monica Larsen 9 27 activities to provide a good factual basis for future decisions. Petroleum and It goes without saying that future opera- The interview Student optimism tions in Barents Sea North will be pursued in energy minister Terje Søviknes wants The downturn in applications for petro- accordance with the Petroleum Act and the to change what he calls the “bad guy” leum-related courses is flattening out decisions taken by the politicians. Our job is image the industry has acquired. as students take a brighter view of their Minerals to identify the potential. prospects. The search for metallic PAGE minerals in the world’s RESPONSIBLE PUBLISHER PRODUCTION NORWEGIAN CONTINENTAL ocean depths is under Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Printer: Kai Hansen SHELF Photo: Nils Rune Sandstå/NPD 28 way. P O Box 600 Paper: Arctic Volume 200/130 g www.npd.no/en/Publications NO-4003 Stavanger Print run Norwegian: 10 000 Norway Print run English: 1 500 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Telephone: +47 51 87 60 00 www.twitter/oljedir E-mail: [email protected] LAYOUT NORWEGIAN Arne Bjørøen COVER PHOTO CONTINENTAL SHELF EDITORIAL TEAM Photo: Øyvind Sætre Bjørn Rasen, editor SUBSCRIPTIONS Immobile oil A JOURNAL FROM THE NORWEGIAN Astri Sivertsen www.npd.no.magazine A new study assesses PETROLEUM DIRECTORATE Bente Bergøy Free of charge methods which can NO 1 - 2017 Eldbjørg Vaage Melberg PAGE Rolf E Gooderham, English editor help to recover large VOLUME 14 amounts of residual oil Bente Nyland 33 on the NCS. director general 2 | NORWEGIAN CONTINENTAL SHELF 1-2017 1-2017 NORWEGIAN CONTINENTAL SHELF | 3 Out of the echo chamber A mood of light euphoria grips Terje Søviknes after his first trip offshore, when he has literally looked down on Norway’s oil wealth. That made a big impression on the new minister of Alliances. "People often find themselves petroleum and energy. in circumstances where they stay in their own echo chambers," says Terje Søviknes. “If the petroleum industry is to have the future I hope it gets, it must build alli- | Bente Bergøy and Sverre S Jarild (photos) ances with other social players.” 4 | NORWEGIAN CONTINENTAL SHELF 1-2017 1-2017 NORWEGIAN CONTINENTAL SHELF | 5 Technology represents the key to “We must balance the debate and a low-emission society in 2050 ”bad guy” image which the indus- get the facts across,” he empha- assumes that as much as 40 per try has acquired. reaching climate goals, not prohibitions sises. cent of the energy will come from ”We must get much cleverer fossil fuels. at relating value creation to things and restrictions. Perspectives ”If that’s the case, why which mean something for ordi- Søviknes points to the recent shouldn’t Norway also contribute? nary people – schools, care of the report on Perspectives for the energy We have a tradition of being a elderly, transport, health, police front runner, and emissions from and hospitals,” he says. he Progress Party politi- and oil companies, he has seen, He takes the reputational prob- transition. Investment needs for a low-carbon energy system from the our production are among the low- ”Oil revenues finance the cian says he is not often asked, listened and learnt about lem seriously. “We’re dependent on est in the world.” welfare state. Those working in to be found in his office. their work, challenges, expecta- recruiting skilled hands and wise International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Although the trend is towards the petroleum sector used to be He prefers to be hands- tions and concerns. heads to continue developing the more renewables, oil and gas regarded as heroes, now they’re on, out in the field, where “If you’re going to have a full expertise base we’ve built up over Energy Agency (Irena). ”They’ve produced scenarios will continue to be produced. rogues. That’s extraordinary and Tthings are happening. understanding of the position, it’s 50 years. Norwegian gas can replace coal in unjust.” on what can be done about the “I’m so incredibly impressed important to meet people and be “This base is the really big asset the EU. The UK, for instance, has a He also finds the media debate by this industry,” he cries. “We’re hands-on where things are hap- – it’s the one which allows Norway world’s energy position to achieve the climate goals set in the Paris clear policy in this area to reduce is conducted between him as a world leader in so many areas pening,” he emphasises. to lie among the front runners for emissions. minister, a few politicians and the – subsea technology, rigs, clean He has always been keen on technological progress and right agreement,” he explains ”These agencies believe it’s In late April, Britain experi- environmental organisations – production … the social perspective. “Politicians in the lead within the oil and gas enced its first day without coal- not between the political parties “I can’t see how it’s possible can’t do it all. As council leader in sector.” important to invest in wind, solar and other renewable energy forms, fired energy since the industrial and the voters. ”That makes the to run all this, the platforms and Os, I often worked for tripartite revolution, and the government is exchanges a little rarefied,” he everything which happens far, far collaboration with industry and but underline that demand for oil Concerned and gas will remain high.” resolved to eliminate this source argues. beneath the seabed. It’s the ulti- volunteers. Søviknes admits to being worried by 2025. Asked to sum up the status of mate in engineering skill. It leaves “That’s a good model. Declining production from about the sharp drop in applica- existing fields means that the com- the NCS, Søviknes praises the job me gasping!” Cooperation with other players tions for petroleum-related cours- done by the oil companies and the Søviknes enthuses about is extremely important, not least panies must continue to explore Proud es. Few students mean it is only a and bring new discoveries on The minister is proud of Norway’s supplies sector in recent years. his helicopter ride out over the in the oil and gas industry. We matter of time before the teachers ”The industry has really got a Norwegian Sea to visit Deep Sea mustn’t get too shut off.” stream. achievements in the oil and gas go too – which would be stupid, ”The IEA/Irena scenario for sector, and wants to eliminate the grip in strengthening its competi- Stavanger. The Odfjell rig is drilling People often find themselves since the industry needs people in production wells on Maria at the in circumstances where they coming years. moment. stay in their own echo chambers, He also worries about attitudes This field will be produced Søviknes observes. That can be to oil among the young. “It’s super in an intricate interaction with secure and comfortable, but hardly that youngsters are involved with neighbours Kristin, Heidrun and forward-looking.

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