Norway sanctions two Norwegian Sea expansion projects

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway — The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has approved Wintershall Dea Norge’s development plan for the Dvalin North gas field and a second-phase project on the Maria Field, both in the Norwegian Sea.

Dvalin North will be tied back to the Equinor-operated Heidrun platform via the Dvalin Field facilities. Three production wells will be drilled from a subsea template 10 km north of Dvalin.

Wintershall Dea estimates Dvalin North reserves at about 84 MMboe and is aiming for startup in the second half of 2026. State-owned Petoro is the other co-venturer.

Maria Phase 2 calls for installation of a six-slot template in the southern part of the Maria Field, connected to infrastructure that was developed as part of the original two-template Maria project. The new template will house two producer wells and one water injector for pressure support, with three spare slots to allow for further development of the field in future.

Phase 2 should add about 22 MMboe to the total Maria Field reserves, and the partnership (the same as for Dvalin North) has also approved a fourth well that will contribute an estimated 5 MMboe.

“As a tieback to several fields in the area, this redevelopment will not only extend the lifetime of the Maria Field but also has the potential to extend the lifetime of other Norwegian Sea assets,” said Vedad Hadziavdic, Maria Phase 2 project manager at Wintershall Dea.

Maria, which came onstream in 2017, should remain in production until 2040.