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NorwayNorway is a strategic and growing core area for Marathon, which complements the Company's longstanding operations at Brae in the U.K. sector of the North Sea. Marathon was approved for the Company's first operatorship on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in 2002, where today the Company operates eight licenses. Heimdal/Vale/SkirneMarathon holds a 23.85 percent in the Heimdal infrastructure, which serves both as a gas transportation and gas/condensate processing hub for the area.
Developments in the North Sea are an important factor in connecting Norwegian resources to growing European gas demand. Since 1980, Marathon has held an interest (currently 23.85 percent) in the Heimdal infrastructure, which now serves as both a gas transportation and gas/condensate processing hub for the area. Among Marathon's interests in its Norwegian production licenses is the Vale Field, which was developed with a subsea well tied back to the Heimdal complex. The Vale well was sidetracked in September 2005 to further enhance AlvheimMarathon holds a 65 percent interest in, and serves as operator of the Alvheim development west of Heimdal. Marathon's partners in Alvheim are Norske ConocoPhillips AS (20 percent working interest) and Lundin Norway AS (15 percent interest). The Alvheim development is comprised of the Kneler, Boa and Kameleon fields and is estimated to contain resources of approximately 180 million gross barrels of oil equivalent. Kneler is eight miles west of the Heimdal platform and was drilled into the prolific Heimdal formation to a total depth of 7,425 feet below sea level, encountering a net oil column of 115 feet. Boa was drilled to a total depth of 7,531 feet below sea level and encountered a 174-foot gross hydrocarbon column, with 82 gross feet of gas on top of 92 gross feet of oil in high-quality sands. There will be 10 producing wells and two water disposal wells in the Phase 1 drilling program, which will continue through the third quarter of 2008. A Phase 2 drilling program is planned for further production wells, which will take place in 2009. The Alvheim Field has been developed utilizing a purpose-designed floating production, storage and offloading vessel. First production from the Alvheim vessel is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2008. The subsea infrastructure is comprised of five drill centers and associated flow lines. The development provides for the transportation of produced oil by shuttle tanker, and transportation of produced natural gas to the existing U.K. Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) system using a 14-inch diameter, 24-mile cross-border pipeline. Peak production is expected during 2008. ViljeMarathon holds a 46.9 percent interest in the nearby Vilje Field, with partners Norske Hydro Produksjon AS (operator) holding a 28.9 percent interest and Total E&P Norge AS with a 24.2 percent interest. Vilje will be developed with two production wells tied back to the Alvheim FPSO and is scheduled to begin producing in 2008. VolundThe Volund Field, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, is approximately six miles south of the Alvheim area. Marathon holds a 65 percent interest in Volund and serves as operator, while Lundin Norway AS holds the remaining 35 percent interest. In 2007, Marathon and its project partner received approval from the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for the companies' plan for development and operation of the Volund Field. The development will include three producing wells and a water injection well and is estimated to contain gross risked resources of approximately 40-50 million barrels of oil equivalent. Volund crude oil will be incorporated into the Alvheim blend and exported via shuttle tankers. Associated gas will be exported via the Alvheim-to-SAGE pipeline. Volund will join the Vilje Field as the second third-party field to be developed as a subsea tieback to Alvheim. The Volund Development is expected to begin production during 2009.
Marathon Petroleum Company (Norway)
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