alvheim first oil

Alvheim FPSO Norway

News Release     3D Schematic of Alvheim FPSO   

On June 9, 2009, Marathon Oil Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, today announced with its partners that the Alvheim development offshore Norway has achieved first production.

  • The Alvheim area comprises the Kneler, Boa, Kameleon and East Kameleon fields and is estimated to contain total net mean resources of approximately 130 mmboe and P90 resource of 230 mmboe.
  • The Alvheim purpose-designed FPSO vessel takes advantage of the latest technology for low emission gas turbines - a first for the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
  • The facility is located about 140 miles (224 kilometers) from Stavanger, Norway, in approximately 400 feet (125 meters) of water.
  • The development provides for the transportation of produced oil by shuttle tanker, and transportation of produced natural gas to the existing U.K. SAGE system using a new 14-inch, 24-mile cross border pipeline.
  • As a regional hub, the Alvheim FPSO is well positioned to deliver significant production for the long-term.

Marathon holds a 65 percent working interest in, and serves as operator of, the Alvheim area. Marathon's partners in Alvheim are Norske ConocoPhillips AS, with a 20 percent working interest, and Lundin Norway AS, with the remaining 15 percent working interest.

Vilje has two production wells and is tied back to the Alvheim FPSO.  Drilled into the Heimdal formation in 2003, Vilje reached a total depth of 7,446 feet and encountered a gross oil column of approximately 223 feet.  It is estimated to contain total net mean resource of approximately 30 mmboe, and P90 resource of 40 mmboe.  Production commenced in August 2008.

The Volund Field is approximately five miles south of the Alvheim area. Marathon holds a 65 percent working interest in Volund and serves as operator, while Lundin Norway AS holds the remaining 35 percent working interest. In September 2009, Marathon and its partners announced first production.  Volund joins Vilje Field as the second field developed as a subsea tieback to Alvheim, firmly establishing the Alvheim FPSO as a new oil processing hub on
the Norwegian Continental Shelf.