OSLO, Norway, Feb. 10, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Recoverable reserves in the Statoil-operated (OSE:STL) (NYSE:STO) Kvitebjoern field in the North Sea have been upgraded by 50 percent in relation to the estimation in the plan for development and operation (PDO).
In terms of volume, this represents 29 billion cubic metres of natural gas liquids (NGL) and roughly 70 million barrels of condensate. The reason for the adjustment of the reserve estimation is that there is more condensate and gas in the reservoir than assumed. "It is good news that new data shows that the reservoir is shallower, larger and of better quality than expected," says Sigurd Geir Amland, operations vice president for Troll Gas and Kvitebjoern. "A find in the Cook formation has also made a positive contribution." The Kvitebjoern gas is sent ashore for treatment at Kollsnes near Bergen. The dry (sales) gas is sent through the transport network to the European market, while the NGL is sent on to the Vestprosess plant at Mongstad north of Bergen for fractionation to propane, butane and naphtha. This increase in reserves thereby entails more than just extending the lifetime of the Kvitebjoern field. "The upgrading will have positive spin-offs for the whole value chain of Kvitebjoern, Kollsnes, Vestprosess and Mongstad," says Mr Amland. He also mentions specially the excellent work done by the Kvitebjoern organisation. "Kvitebjoern was Statoil's first high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) field, and the project was delivered on time and to budget." The field has been on stream since the autumn of 2004 and now delivers at peak 20.7 million cubic metres of gas per day from seven wells. This is the first time that the Kvitebjoern reserves have been updated since the PDO was submitted in 2001. Reserves were estimated at that time to be 52 billion cubic metres of gas and 135 million barrels of condensate. These reserves are not recorded with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Kvitebjoern licensees are Statoil with 43.55 percent, Petoro 30 percent, Hydro 15 percent, Total 5 percent and Enterprise Oil Norge with 6.45 percent.