Statoil Shut Down Veslefrikk and Huldra For Security Reasons

Veslefrikk (below) Photo: Espen Bruvik

Norwegian Statoil decided to shut down production on the Huldra gas and Veslefrikk oil fields in the North Sea after they discovered a defect in the lifeboat system. They will not resume production until the maintenance programme for both lifeboats on Veslefrikk A has been completed later this week.

Statoil: Veslefrikk and Huldra shut down

Production from the Huldra gas and Veslefrikk oil fields in the North Sea was shut down by operator Statoil on 23 July after the discovery of an internal crack in a conventional lifeboat system.

Located on the Veslefrikk A platform, this unit was immediately taken out of operation and staffing on the field reduced from 82 to 65.

“Safety comes first,” says Otto Oeren, acting operations vice president for Huldra and Veslefrikk.

“We don’t want to prepare to resume production until the maintenance programme for both lifeboats on Veslefrikk A has been completed later this week.”

Veslefrikk produces about 30,000 barrels of oil per day, while daily output on Huldra – which is remotely operated from the other field – is roughly six million cubic metres of gas.

Wow, just imagine how much this is gonna cost them. 30,000 barrels of oil and six million cubic metres of gas per day. The safety of their workers is their first priority. Hats off to Statoil.

Well, I know it´s just a drop of oil in the ocean but Veslefrikk is "back on steam". They started up August 8th after they have been shut down since July 23rd. Amazing what a little crack in a lifeboat can do. The lifeboat has now been repaired...


Btw, they are having a big party in Norway today because of the record high price of oil. $66 a barrel...

Originally posted by Hellmutt
Btw, they are having a big party in Norway today because of the record high price of oil. $66 a barrel...

What sort of party?
Who's having it?

Is oil a Nationalized state asset in Norway or are private companies and sharholders the only ones to benefit?

I bet many Albertans are having a party too.

Veslefrikk is a drop in the bucket sure, but supply is currently so tight that any disruption affects the price.

Norway has good reason to party since they will get a good price for what is left.

You got any info from the local press on the production decline in the North Sea Hellmutt?
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Oil is sort of nationalized in Norway. It was 100% owned by the State, but then they sold off some stocks. Many norwegians bought stocks when they were released to the market. The State still own a big share and they also make big revenue from taxes. However how the politicians are spending the money from the oil is sort of a secret. The common norwegian don´t see any money. They are just told that they are "rich" and they believe it . The two big oil companies in Norway is Statoil and Hydro.

Production decline? Haven´t heard about it. In fact they are expanding all over the place. Ormen Lange is the biggest project of its kind (but it´s about gas, not oil). Also north of Norway in the Barents Sea they are starting up something big. Side-by-side and co-operating with the Russians since the biggest oil fields there are right on the border. I saw speculations today from an "expert" who claimed that the price of oil may pass $100 per barrel. This was if something nasty happened in Iran or elsewhere in the world of oil.

I found it strange that they closed down this field for over 14 days because of "a lifeboat", but I guess they had their reasons to do so.

Thank for the info Hellmutt

Originally posted by Hellmutt
Production decline? Haven´t heard about it.

Well here is a recent story mentioning North Sea depletion

The auction was expected to attract a flood of interest due to the lack of producing assets in the North Sea available for sale.

The sale is a dramatic step for Kerr-McGee, which is aiming to leave regions where production is declining, moving instead to higher growth areas such as deep water Gulf of Mexico, Canadian oil sands, and China's Bohai Bay.

Kerr-McGee to exit North Sea for £2bn

By the way Mathew Simmons is apparently on Kerr-McGee's board of directors: From the Wilderness
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hmmm, you are right Gools. There appears to be a decline in production. There is more oil and gas there, but they need to open up new areas for oil and gas development.



There is an upcoming election in Norway just now. In less than two weeks in matter of fact. Listen up fellow Norwegians: If you don`t want the oil/gas-production to decline, then don`t vote for SV (Socialist Left party)! (Actually, don`t vote for SV even if you do want the production to decline. SV = bad for you ) Ok, keep in mind the upcoming election. This means that the media will be more biased than usual these days. I`m not going to tell you how to vote... In Norway, there are way more than just 2 different parties/candidates to vote for.

Originally posted by Hellmutt
Wow, just imagine how much this is gonna cost them. 30,000 barrels of oil and six million cubic metres of gas per day. The safety of their workers is their first priority. Hats off to Statoil.

of course, they arent american, and the company isnt run my a U.S. Congressman. if it was a U.S. rig, they would take the lifeboats off the rig to save a few cents "They can swim 50 miles, it aint that far"