Ekofisk

The Ekofisk Complex comprises all installations which are connected with bridges on the central Ekofisk field. As of 2018, this includes nine platforms and bridge supports. The newest platforms are the wellhead platform 2/4 Z and the field center and accommodation platform 2/4 L which were installed in 2013.

 Since the development started early in the 1970s, the Complex has been a field center and hub for the production from the Ekofisk field itself, and from the other fields in the Greater Ekofisk Area. In addition, production from other fields in the area has been - and is - transported via the Ekofisk Complex to the receiving terminals in Emden, Germany (gas) and Teesside, UK (oil).

The Ekofisk Complex has been developed in stages, and upgraded and modernized several times.

The latest redevelopment, Ekofisk South, startet operation in 2013. The Ekofisk South project consists of the 2/4 Z wellhead platform and the 2/4 VB seabed installation.

For press photos, click here.

Ekofisk 2/4 J is a processing and transportation platform which became operational in 1998. It is connected with gangways to Ekofisk 2/4 X to the west and Ekofisk 2/4 M to the south. Ekofisk 2/4 J is a hub for all production from the four fields in the Greater Ekofisk Area. In addition to the production from the main field Ekofisk, oil and gas from Eldfisk and Embla  is also transported to Ekofisk 2/4 J.

The oil from the Ula, Valhall and Hod fields, where Aker BP is the operator, is transported via Ekofisk 2/4 J before being shipped to Teesside. This is also the case for oil and gas from the Gyda field, operated by Repsol.

Oil and gas are processed at the Ekofisk 2/4 J platform before being pressurised and shipped in the export lines. The oil is shipped in a 354-kilometer long pipeline to the receiving terminal in Teesside in the UK, while the gas is shipped in a 440-kilometer long pipeline to Emden in Germany.

The central control room on the platform controls all processes on Ekofisk 2/4 J and the connected platforms, as well as the volumes running through the pipelines.

Ekofisk 2/4 J has a process capacity of 21,2 million cubic meters of gas and 350,000 barrels of oil per day. In addition, oil from Eldfisk can’bypass’ directly to the pipeline.

The C Tour facility, which cleans produced water from the Ekofisk field, is also located on Ekofisk 2/4 J. The facility has capacity to clean 150,000 barrels of water per day, before discharging it to sea.

The Ekofisk 2/4 J platform is the largest energy producer in the Greater Ekofisk Area. The energy production is gas-based, adapted to the daily need and is mainly used directly for processing, gas export, gas injection and oil transport. Two gas turbines totalling 44 MW installed capacity have also been installed to supply the integrated power grid on the Ekofisk field.

For press photos, click here.

Ekofisk 2/4 X is a drilling and production platform connected to the platforms Ekofisk 2/4 C and Ekofisk 2/4 J via gangways.

Ekofisk 2/4 X mainly performs two tasks: It is equipped with a separate drilling rig for drilling of wells, and it is also a wellhead platform receiving the reservoir production before being transferred to Ekofisk 2/4 J.

Ekofisk 2/4 X has been operational since 1996.

Ekofisk 2/4 M is a combined production and process platformremotely controlled from Ekofisk 2/4 J. Ekofisk 2/4 M came on stream in 2005 and can accommodate 30 wells. One of the wells is used for reinjection of cuttings.  Drilling  and well intervention activities takes place using  jack-up rigs.

The platform is also the connection point for the new platforms Ekofisk 2/4 L and Ekofisk 2/4 Z, installed in 2013.

Ekofisk 2/4 H is an accommodation platform with 134 cabins. It is no longer in regular use.

The platform is equipped with facilities to service its guests, including a kitchen and mess, a separate power generator, dedicated water production and everything required to cater for the crew.

In addition to the accommodation functions, there is a cinema, gym, leisure rooms, coffee room, chapel, hospital and health personnel department.

Ekofisk 2/4 H was installed in 1977 and started operating in 1978. The platform functioned as a field centre until 2013.

Ekofisk 2/4 C is a combined production and compressor platform on the Ekofisk Complex. The platform is permanently staffed with operations personnel. It has gangway connections to Ekofisk 2/4 H, Ekofisk 2/4 Q and Ekofisk 2/4 X.

The production is transported to Ekofisk 2/4 J for separation and processing – and further on to the receiving terminals for oil (Teesside) and gas (Emden).

Production from Ekofisk 2/4 C started in 1974.

Ekofisk 2/4 Q was installed in 1972 and was originally a living quarters platform with a helicopter deck and offices. The platform was shut down in 2014.

The platform is bridged to the Ekofisk 2/4 FTP and the Ekofisk 2/4 C platforms.

Ekofisk 2/4 Q is on the list of platforms to be decommissioned.The accommodation modules were removed in the summer of 2014.

Ekofisk 2/4 L is an accommodation and field center platform in the Ekofisk Complex.

Ekofisk 2/4 L is the regional telecommunications hub, as well as the hub for coordination of all air and sea traffic in the area. There are office facilities, a cafeteria, recreational areas and a section for health personnel. The heli deck has two helicopter hangars with a capacity of 50 daily air movements. This is the most important helicopter landing area in the Greater Ekofisk Area.

Ekofisk 2/4 L replaced the existing Ekofisk 2/4 H and Ekofisk 2/4 Q accommodation platforms.

Ekofisk 2/4 Z is a wellhead platform in the Ekofisk Complex with 36 well slots, 35 of which are for production and one is dedicated to the reinjection of cuttings. The wells will be drilled by a jack up drilling rig placed next to the 2/4 Z-platform.

The platform is designed and constructed to carry out multiple simultaneous operations, such as production, drilling, well maintenance and well intervention activities.

The platform is monitored and remotely operated from the central control room on the 2/4 J platform, but it is also ready to be monitored and controlled from the company’s onshore operations center in Tananger. The platform was installed during the summer of 2013 and is connected to the Ekofisk complex by bridge.

The platform started operation in October 2013.

Ekofisk 2/4 K-B is located 2.3 kilometers north of the Ekofisk Complex. These two platforms have joint staffing and are connected with a gangway. Operations on the two platforms are controlled from the control room on Ekofisk 2/4 K.

Ekofisk 2/4 B

Ekofisk 2/4 B is a production platform for oil and gas with 24 wells. The oil and the gas from 2/4 B is transported by pipelines to the Ekofisk Complex. Ekofisk 2/4 B has been in production since 1974.​
 

Ekofisk 2/4 VA is a seabed unit for water injection with eight wells for injection. The injection water comes from Ekofisk 2/4 K and is sent 4.1 kilometers through a pipeline before being injected under high pressure at the wellhead, around 70 meters below sea level.

The injection capacity is 120,000 barrels of water per day, divided among the eight injection wells.

Ekofisk 2/4 VA came into operation in 2010.

For press photos, click here.

Ekofisk 2/4 VB is a seabed unit with eight water injection wells – located three kilometers south of the Ekofisk Complex. The water injection takes place using a five-kilometer pipeline from the Eldfisk Complex to Ekofisk 2/4 VB. The unit is connected to the corresponding seabed unit Ekofisk 2/4 VA by hydraulic and fiber optic cables. 

The seabed unit was installed in 2012 and entered use in 2013.​

Ekofisk 2/4 VB is a seabed unit with four water injection wells – located approximately three kilometers south of the Ekofisk Complex.

The water injection takes through a five-kilometer pipeline from the Eldfisk Complex to Ekofisk 2/4 VC. The unit receives power and signals form the Ekofisk 2/4 M platform. 

Water injection from Ekofisk 2/4 VC started in the autumn of 2018.

Ekofisk 2/4 A is a production platform located 3.1 kilometers south of the Ekofisk Complex.

Ekofisk 2/4 A was the first permanent platform in the Greater Ekofisk Area – and on the Norwegian continental shelf. The first oil production from well A-13 commenced on 25 April 1974.

The platform was permanently closed down in September 2013. Permanent plugging and abandonment work started in 2014 and was completed in 2016.

Read news article: Ekofisk 2/4 A - end of an era