Operator Neptune Energy and its partners Wintershall Dea, Petoro and OKEA today announced that production has started from the Gjøa P1 development in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

Gjøa P1 has been developed via a new subsea template, tied back to existing infrastructure on the Gjøa field. It is a two well development with one oil and one gas producer. As planned, the gas well came onstream the on 22 February, with the oil well planned to start-up later this week.

The semi-submersible Gjøa production unit is electrified with hydropower from shore and has one of the lowest CO2 footprints per produced barrel of oil equivalent (boe) on the Norwegian Shelf.

Neptune Energy’s Managing Director in Norway, Odin Estensen, said: “This is an important milestone for Neptune and our Gjøa partners and demonstrates our commitment to invest in Norway.

“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we delivered the project on time and on budget. The start-up of Gjøa P1 underlines the Gjøa platform’s position as an important hub, increasing total remaining developed reserves at Gjøa by 30%.”

Good reservoir management has already extended the field life considerably. Gjøa is now set to produce over 100 million boe more than was estimated when production began in 2010. Gjøa P1 will help further maximise use of hydrocarbon resources.

Estensen added: “The start-up of Gjøa P1, as well as the upcoming production start from the neighbouring Duva field, strengthens Neptune’s role in the northern part of the North Sea, an important growth area for the business.”

Neptune Energy’s Projects and Engineering Director in Norway, Erik Oppedal, said: “The P1 development enables us to recover significant quantities of oil and gas from deeper lying reservoirs, as well as to utilise spare production capacity. This will help lower production costs per barrel, adding significant value to the Gjøa Licence Partners and to Norwegian society.”

Licence partners: Neptune Energy (30% and operator), Petoro AS (30%), Wintershall Dea Norge AS (28%), OKEA (12%).