Consent for operation of Delta L expires on 31 December 2021. In order to recover the remaining reserves in the field, Equinor, the operator, has applied for consent to extend the operating life of the field’s subsea system.
We have now given consent for use of the subsea facility on the Delta L field until 31 December 2034.
The field is tied back to the Oseberg Field Centre and has been developed by means of two subsea well templates with space for a total of eight wells.
The consent applies to existing wells, subsea well templates, pipeline systems and risers to Oseberg.
What does producing life extension involve?
New technology and operating methods as well as measures to improve oil and gas recovery mean that licensees often want to keep existing facilities working past their retirement date.
In many cases, continuing to use facilities beyond their design life makes socio-economic sense. But permitting such extensions at the expense of safety is not acceptable.