Equinor commenced production from the Verdande subsea oil field in the Norwegian Sea. This field, linked to the Norne FPSO, holds reserves of 36 million barrels of oil, effectively extending Norne’s operational life beyond 2030.
The Verdande project was delivered on schedule, just under three years after the initial investment decision. Trond Bokn, Senior Vice President for Project Development at Equinor, emphasized the swift and cost-efficient development, citing its reliance on existing infrastructure to maximize the recovery from smaller fields.
The Verdande development cost around NOK 6 billion and has provided substantial benefits to the Norwegian supplier industry. The project is part of a broader trend of developing smaller subsea fields that connect to established infrastructure, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. To date, Norne FPSO is connected to six subsea fields, including Andvare and now Verdande.
Grete B. Haaland, Senior Vice President for Exploration and Production North at Equinor, highlighted the value of extending the operational lifespan of Norne, creating significant socio-economic effects, and maximizing resource recovery.
Verdande is an oil field with some gas and includes the Cape Vulture and Alve Nord East discoveries, made in 2017 and 2020, respectively. The field is developed with three wells, connected to Norne via a pipeline.
Equinor’s partners in the Verdande field include Petoro, DNO Norge, Aker BP, Japex Norge, and Orlen Upstream Norway, with DNO expected to acquire Aker BP’s and Orlen’s shares, pending government approval. The field is located 7 km north of Norne and approximately 200 km from Sandnessjøen.
Key suppliers involved in Verdande’s development include TechnipFMC, Aibel, Subsea7, and Transocean, contributing significantly to Norway’s local economy and supply chain. This development showcases Equinor’s commitment to maximizing the potential of the Norwegian Continental Shelf through innovative solutions and collaboration with local suppliers.
