08/23/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/23/2023 03:06
Wintershall Dea has started production from the operated Dvalin gas field in the Norwegian Sea together with the partners Petoro and Sval Energi, providing significant new gas volumes to the European market.
The field helps underpin Norway's position as Europe's largest gas supplier: On plateau, Dvalin is planned to produce enough energy to heat more than 2 million homes. The additional volumes come as Europe continues to search for predictable long-term supplies of natural gas. "We are aware that in the winter months European demand for gas will rise, and the continent will be looking to Norway to be the supplier of choice. We have worked hard to ensure Dvalin will be onstream safely, and are satisfied that the field will make a significant contribution to European energy security," said Dawn Summers, Wintershall Dea Chief Operating Officer.
The field has been shut-in since late 2020 after measurements of high levels of mercury in the well stream. Since then, mercury removal units have been installed at the onshore processing facilities at Nyhamna and Tjeldbergodden in mid-Norway.
"The team has worked hard to overcome technical challenges in the field, providing robust solutions that will allow Dvalin to deliver substantial gas volumes to our European partners long into the future," said Michael Zechner Wintershall Dea Norge Managing Director.
The Dvalin field has an estimated lifetime until 2038 including the Dvalin North field, which is currently being developed.
Gas weighted portfolio and subsea strategy strengthened
As a subsea gas field which is controlled from the nearby Heidrun platform, Dvalin helps maintain Wintershall Dea's gas weighted portfolio, while supporting the broader strategy of producing hydrocarbons using existing infrastructure.
Located some 15 kilometres northwest of Heidrun, Dvalin has been developed using a single subsea template with four production wells. The field now joins Maria, Nova and Vega as Wintershall Dea's fourth operated subsea field in Norway.
Additionally, it is the tie in point for the Wintershall Dea operated Dvalin North subsea gas development, which was approved by the Norwegian government in 2023.
Boost for strategic growth area
Located in the Haltenbanken area of the Norwegian Sea some 260 kilometres north of Kristiansund, and with expected recoverable gross reserves estimated at 113 million barrels of oil equivalent1 of which the majority will be gas, the Dvalin field lies at the heart of one of Wintershall Dea's key growth regions. The company is partner and operator of several nearby exploration licenses, as well as discoveries which are already under development, including Dvalin North which was part of Norway's largest discovery in 2021.
Wintershall Dea is operator of the Dvalin field and has a 55% share. Petoro has 35% and Sval Energi has 10%.
1 as per PDO (Plan for Development and Operation)
About Wintershall Dea
Wintershall Dea is transforming from the leading European independent gas and oil company to become a leading European independent gas and carbon management company. We have more than 120 years of experience as an operator and project partner along the entire E&P value chain. The company with German roots and headquarters in Kassel and Hamburg explores for and produces gas and oil in 11 countries worldwide in an efficient and responsible manner. With activities in Europe, Latin America and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Wintershall Dea has a global upstream portfolio and, with its participation in natural gas transport, is also active in the midstream business. And we develop carbon management and low carbon hydrogen projects to contribute to climate goals and secure energy supplies. More in our Annual Report.
As a European gas and oil company, we support the EU's 2050 carbon neutrality target. As our contribution we have set ourselves ambitious targets: We want to be net zero across our entire upstream operations - both operated and non-operated - by 2030. This includes Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect) greenhouse gas emissions on an equity share basis. Wintershall Dea will also bring its methane emissions intensity below 0.1 per cent by 2025. We endorsed the World Bank's Initiative 'Zero Routine Flaring by 2030' and continue to support the initiative aimed at eliminating routine flaring in operated assets by 2030. In addition, we plan to support global decarbonisation efforts by building up a carbon management and hydrogen business to potentially abate 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per annum by 2040. You can find more about this in our Sustainability Report.
Wintershall Dea was formed from the merger of Wintershall Holding GmbH and DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG, in 2019. Today, the company employs more than 2,000 people worldwide from almost 60 nations.