EUROPEAn

OFFSHORE
SPE 8120 PETROLEum
conFEREnCE
THE DEVELOPMENT HISTORY a EXHIBITion
OF GREATER EKOFISK
by W. L. Heidbreder,
Phillips Petroleum Co.

Copyright 1978, European Offshore Petroleum Conference and Exhibition on behalf of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (U.K.) Limited

This paper was presented at the European Offshore Petroleum Conference and Exhibition in London 24-27, October, 1978. The material is subject to correction by the author. Permission to
copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words.

ABSTRACT West Germany was the first to grant petroleum

rights followed by the United Kingdom in 1964.
The Ekofisk Field, discovered in 1969, at a Interest at that time was concentrated in the
time when exploratory interest in the hostile southern region as water depths were less and the
North Sea vas beginning to wane, marked the begin- weather less hostile. Drilling in the U.K. began
ning of a new era in the oil industry. This was in December that year and discoveries followed
an era of remarkable technological advancement, quickly; West Sole gas field in 1965, Leman in
one in which man's ingenuity was pitted against early 1966, Indefatigable in mid 1966, Hewett in
the elements of nature at their worst. With the late 1966 and Viking in 1968.
further discovery of West Ekofisk, Tor and Eldfisk
fields in 1970, Edda and Albuskjell fields in 1972 Most of this production was from the Rotlie-
and the decision to develop Cod field discovered gendes formation of Permian age. Phillips Petroleum
in 1968, a comprehensive three phase development Company's seismic work, however, indicated a thick
plan, one of the largest in petroleum history, was Tertiary basin along the median line between
under way - The Development of Gre~ter Ekofisk. Norway and the United Kingdom. This basin of
younger age was of much interest since historically
Based on nine years of completed development much of the world's production was from basins of
and seven years of Ekofisk production history, this nature.
this paper reviews the history of development,
highlights technological advancements and discusses The Phillips Norway Group, consisting of
the problems incurred at Greater Ekofisk. Although Phillips Petroleum Company Norway (Operator),
certain revisions in design and slippages in Norske Fina A/S and Norske AGIP A/S, therefore,
schedule have occurred, the original concepts applied for and was subsequently awarded Norwegian
remain valid after nine years. production licenses 016, 017 and 018 in 1965.
These licenses covered blocks 7/8, 8/1, 16/11 and
INTRODUCTION 17/12; 8/8, 8/10 and 8/11; and 1/5, 2/4, 2/7 and
7/11 respectively. In 1967 the A/S Petronord
Prior to 1959 the North Sea area had attracted Group acquired 20% interest in the Phillips Norway
little worldwide exploration attention. Although Group resulting In the present international
offshore areas were beginning to be widely consi- composition:
dered for exploration, none of the onshore oil
fields discovered in the previous 40 years around Phillips Petroleum Company
the North Sea would have been commercial if located Norway (USA) 36.960%
offshore. However, with the discovery of the American Petrofina Exploration
giant Groningen gas field in the Netherlands in Company Norway (USA) 30.000%
1959, exploratory interest in the North Sea began
to build. Although the Geneva Convention of 1958 Norske AGIP A/S (Italy) 13.040%
had laid out the basic rules for dividing conti-
A/S Petronord Group
nental shelf areas, the ratification of 22 nations
was needed before the convention became effective. Elf Aquitaine Norge A/S (France) 8.094%
This was not accomplished until 1964 and even then
Norsk Hydro a.s. (Norway) 6.700%
there were disputes between West Germany, Denmark
and the Netherlands that were not settled until Total Marine Norsk A/S (France) 4.047%
1970. In the meantime companies were busy shooting Eurafrep Norge A/S (France) 0.456%
seismic lines and trading data. In this way many
companies were ready for selecting promising Coparex Norge A/S (France) 0.399%
acreage when made available. Cofranord A/s (France) o ,'l04%
299
DISCOVERY
Drilling began on the Norwegian continental
shelf in 1966 and between July of that year and
August 1969, Phillips, Esso, Amoco, Petronord,
Texaco, Shell, Gulf, Murphy and Syracuse had
drilled some 32 wells without a commercial dis-
covery. The Phillips Norway Group had been en-
couraged by their condensate discovery in Block
7/11, Cod field, in mid 1968 but after subsequent
dry holes in other blocks, Phillips like most
operators was ready to shut down.
Only the contract obligation on the semi-sub-
mersible drilling rig "Ocean Viking" resulted in
the drilling of the well 2/4-1X in August 1969.
This hole was plugged after encountering drilling
problems at 1,675 m (5,500 ft). Oil shows had
been recorded, so a replacement well, 2/4-1AX, was
drilled. This well did not encounter the upper
interval oil shows but at approximately 3,050 m
(10,000 ft) oil shows were encountered and contin-
ued for 215 m (700 ft) through the Danian and into
the upper Cretaceous limestones. This was December
1969 and weather was extremely bad. Logs were
run, short drill stem tests conducted and the well
temporarily abandoned. The results were suffi-
ciently encouraging to cause the Phillips Norway
Group to continue their exploration effort.
Three months later, the 2/4-2X well was
drilled 3.2 kID (2 mil east of the discovery and
confirmed the discovery of hydrocarbons by testing
at oil rates in excess of 600 m3 /d (3,800 BOPD).
This flow rate was equipment limited and indica-
tions were that flow capacities were in excess of
1,600 m3 /d (10,000 BOPD). Well 2/4-3X was drilled
3.2 km (2 mil south of the discovery and as geo-
logically anticipated, since it was drilled down
dip to establish an oil-water contact, encountered
about one half as much pay as the first two Ekofisk
wells. The fourth well, drilled 5 kID (3 mil north
of the discovery, confirmed the largest oil field
In Western Europe.
After the discovery, further seismic was run
and drilling continued elsewhere in the area.
Three additional fields, Tor, which extended into
Amoco's Block 2/5, West Ekofisk and Eldfisk were
discovered in 1970. Albuskjell, which extended
into Shell's Block 1/6, and Edda were discovered
in 1972.
LOCATION
The Ekofisk field is located in the central
North Sea on the Norwegian continental shelf near
the United Kingdom boundary (Fig. 1). It is prac-
tically equidistant from the major oil consuming
nations of Europe, being 290 kID (180 mil from
Norway and 320 kID (200 mil from Denmark, Scotland
and England. The size of the hydrocarbon accu-
mulations located at this remote, hostile location
was to provide the incentive for stepping beyond
the bounds of previous oil industry experience.
This area became a proving ground for many ideas
and techniques to be used by the industry in
subsequent hydrocarbon discoveries at locations
where environmental conditions were even more
adverse. The steady progress of the industry in
moving northward into more hostile North Sea
300
environments is clearly indicated by the sub-
sequent discoveries and pipelines indicated in
Figure 1. The development of none of these areas,
however, can compare in scope with that of the
Greater Ekofisk area. With the subsequent disco-
very of five additional fields located at distances
of up to 23 kID (14 mil from Ekofisk (Fig. 2) and
the decisions to develop Cod field some 80 kID (50
mil away and to tie all these into a central
processing facility, the Development of Greater
Ekofisk was under way.
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Once the appraisal of Ekofisk was complete,
the planning of one of the biggest offshore de-
velopments ever attempted in such adverse environ-
mental conditions was undertaken. A three phase
development plan was devised to insure development
and production with maximum efficiency. Each
phase was to be a continuation of the previous and
with a definitive purpose.
Phase I was designed to obtain lengthy pro-
duction history, additional reservoir information,
early operational experience and to generate early
income. To accomplish this the four subsea explo-
ration wells were tied into a temporary production
platform with oil loaded onto tankers through two
single point monomooring buoys (SBM's).
Phase II, devised to complete the early and
rapid development of Ekofisk field to its potential
of 56,000 m3 /d (350,000 BOPD) , called for the re-
placement of the temporary platform with permanent
production facilities and the erection of three
drilling platforms, a flare platform, a quarters
platform and an underwater storage tank. Offshore
loading was to continue during this phase.
The magnitUde of Phase III, the development
of outlying fields, was not realized at the onset.
The connection of outlying fields to a central
system was planned along with the laying of a gas
pipeline. A possible oil line was planned contin-
gent upon proving sufficient reserves for justifi-
cation. As the seven fields were proven, Phase
III took on its current scope calling for connect-
ing the seven fields to a central system, laying
an oil line to a newly constructed onshore crude
stabilization and NGL processing facility and
laying a gas line to a newly constructed gas
treatment plant.
PHASE I
The Phillips Norway Group had commenced
pushing the limits of technology in 1967 with the
contracting of a new breed of drilling vessel, a
semi-submersible, for their exploration drilling
program to be conducted year round in the North
Sea. In order to accomplish the objectives of
Phase I, several more innovative steps 'had to be
taken. First, the four subsea exploration wells
were re-entered and completed using 114 mm (4~ in)
tubing and subsea wellhead equipment. Second, the
jack-up drilling rig "Gulftide" became the first
mobile rig used for offshore production facilities
and finally, SBM's were installed in 70 m (230 ft)
water depths and tanker loading undertaken in open
seas.
 The "Gulftide" was thoroughly inspected and
repairs made before its conversion to a production
platform. Pipe racks were removed for installation
of production equipment, supports added to the
derrick to brace the gas flare stack, supports
added to accommodate survival capsules and the
helideck enlarged and strengthened. Production
equipment to handle 6,400 m3 (40,000 bbls) of oil
and 1.4 million m3 (50 MMCF) of gas per day was
installed.
Oil from the first stage separator operating
at 3,500 kPa (500 psia) was heated to 66c (150 0 F)
and flashed into the second stage separator at 41
kPa (6 psia). The gas was flared through a 508 mm
(20 in) line in the "Gulftide's" derrick. The oil
was metered and pumped through two 273 mm (lOa in)
loading lines to two SBM's anchored 2.4 and 2.8 km
(1; and ld mil from the "Gulftide". Although
SBM's had been utilized elsewhere in the world,
none were located in waters in excess of 27 m (90
ft) and all were located in sheltered water close
to shore with mooring gear and loading hoses
handled by launches. The location of SBM's in
water 70 m (230 ft) deep, the development of
mooring line capable of securing 60,000 dwt tankers
in 93 km/h (50 knot) winds and 5 m (16 ft) signi-
ficant waves and the development of a self mooring
system for these tankers were all innovations of
Phase I. Performance figures indicate that an
average downtime of 22.2 per cent was experienced
with successful moorings regularly made in 4.6 m
(15 ft) seas with 56 km/h (30 knot) winds and
ships remaining at berth in 7.6 m (25 ft) seas and
93 km/h (50 knot) winds. The final innovative
design of Phase I was the 1,070 mm (42 in) x 91 m
(300 ft) caisson to conduct and support all the
lines from the sea floor to the platform. This
caisson held fourteen lines; two 114 mm (4; in)
flowlines to each well, four specially designed
hydraulic control lines, one to each well, and two
273 mm (lOa in) tanker loading lines along with
two electric cables.
Phase I production commenced from one well on
July 7,1971 setting another landmark as the first
commercial oil production from the North Sea. All
four wells were completed and on stream by January
1972. Phase I ended in April 1974 after a total
production of 4.5 million m3 (28 million bbls) at
maximum rates in excess of 7,200 m3 /d (45,000
BOPD). Production had commenced only 18 months
after the discovery and continued for over two
years before permanent facilities were available.
This period provided valuable North Sea opera-
tional experience and allowed refinements in
reservoir parameters. These, together with the
early income, made the $28,000,000 Phase I a
success.
PHASE II
Completing the development of Ekofisk field
called for the installation of three drilling
platforms, 2/4-A, Band C, a field terminal plat-
form, 2/4-FTP, a quarters platform, 2-4/Q, an
emergency gas flare, FL-l and an underwater
concrete storage tank, 2/4-T.
Platform A, an 8 leg, 16 slot unit was
completely installed by August 1973 and its 11
301
producing wells completed by November 1975.
Platform B, a 12 leg, 24 slot, 2 rig unit was
completed in October 1973. Its 16 wells were
completed by April 1976. Finally, Platform C, a
12 leg, 16 slot combination drilling and compres-
sion platform was installed by October 1973.
Drilling commenced in January 1974 and the 4
producing wells and 8 injection wells were com-
pleted by December 1975. The compression equip-
ment became operable in February 1975.
Platform A and B were located in the south
central and north central part of the field res-
pectively. Platform C was in the line of inter-
connected structures making up the Ekofisk Complex.
From south to north these Phase II facilities
consist of FL-l, followed by two bridge support
tripods, 2/4-FTP, 2/4-Q, 2/4-c, another bridge
support tripod, platform 2/4-p and finally the
underwater storage tank (Fig. 3).
Platform Q is a 4 leg structure providing 34
rooms for permanent quarters with temporary quar-
ters for 115 men. Platform P, a 4 leg structure,
was installed for future pump equipment.
The production facilities located on 2/4-FTP
were designed to handle 56,000 m3 /d (350,000 BOPD)
and associated gas expected to range from 13 - 28
million m3 /d (450-1,000 MMCFD) which was to be
produced from 2/4-A, Band C. The oil and gas
separation facilities on 2/4-FTP consist of two
trains of heat exchangers with three stages of
separation operating at 7,000 kPa (1,015 psia),
1,830 kPa (265 psia) and 138 kPa (20 psia) res-
pectively (Fig. 4). Gas from the low stage sepa-
rator is compressed and joined with the gas from
the second stage. This gas is then recompressed,
joined with the gas from the first stage and piped
to 2/4-c for re-injection into the reservo~r.
Phase II production commenced at 3,200 m3 /d
(20,000 BOPD) in April 1974 with production from
2/4-A through 2/4-FTP and onto tankers through the
SBM's used in Phase I. New 760 mm (30 in) subsea
lines from 2/4-FTP to these buoys were installed.
Original plans called for the continued production
of the four subsea 1-Tells by tieing them into 2/4-
FTP. All four wells required workovers. Problems
on the first workover resulted in the decision to
abandon these wells. The last well 2/4-2X was
abandoned in 1976.
The plans for Phase II again called for a
series of innovations, the most outstanding being
the 160,000 m3 (one million bbl) storage tank.
The tank is a prestressed concrete structure
weighing 115,000 tonnes (125,000 tons). The
storage reservoir made of nine separate inter-
connected cells is 50 m (165 ft) in diameter and
82 m (270 ft) in height. The reservoir is sur-
rounded by a breakwater wall about 92 m (302 ft)
in diameter. The breakwater wall is perforated
and is designed to dissipate 70% of the total wave
energy between it and the inner wall. The base of
the tank was constructed in dry dock at Jattavagen,
near Stavanger, and towed to deep inland water in
Hillevagen Bay for construction of the walls and
roof. The tank was completed on June 21, 1973 and
set on location by June 29. The tank is to be
full of liquid at all times, normally both crude
and water. Four 38,000 m3 /d (240,000 BPD) pumps,
one as standby, are used for transferring crude to
tankers and three 57,000 m3 /d (360,000 BPD) sea-
water pumps, one as standby, replace seawater as
oil is discharged. Transfer of water in and out
of the tank is through two 760 mm (30 in) risers
and a skimming tank where oil is removed before
discharging water into the sea.
Actual operation of the tank commenced in
December 1974. From this time until oil pipeline
start up, October 1975, offshore loading downtime
averaged 40% but the storage provided by the tank
limited actual production downtime to less than
1%. Production during this period averaged
26,000 m3 /d (165,000 BOPD).
The second major technological aavancement of
Phase II was the design and operation of the
world's highest pressure gas injection centrifugal
compressors. These compressors were designed to
take 6,720 kPa (975 psia) gas from the second
stage recompressor and the first stage separator
and compress it in two stages, first to 24,000 kPa
(3,500 psia) and then to pressures as high as
63,000 kPa (9,200 psia) depending on the number of
injection wells and the formation pressure. The
installation of these compressors was completed in
June 1974. Original attempts at operation, how-
ever, were met with excessive vibration problems.
Analysis of the situation resulted in an inter-
mediate redesign of the compressor rotor and
seals. The new equipment was installed in Decem-
ber 1974 and after testing was put into operation
in February 1975 although full design discharge
pressures could not be reached. Well injectivity
response, however, was better than previously
anticipated and it was possible to inject the
required volumes of gas at lesser pressures than
originally anticipated. With the two trains
operating, injection of 13.6 million m3 /d (480
MMCFD) of gas corresponding to an oil production
of 51,000 m3 /d (320,000 BOPD) was possible. The
final redesign of the compressor rotor and seals
was completed and the equipment manufactured and
installed by September 1975. This unit has been
operating since then with no major problems.
Finally, the method of installing platform
foundations at Ekofisk was another technological
achievement. Pile driving experience in strong
foundation soils such as those found at Ekofisk,
precluded the driving of piles as a means of
providing the necessary structural support for
anticipated platform and wave loads. While con-
sidering the uncertainties and problems of using
grouted insert piles in this environment, the idea
of using an underreamed footing, bell foundation,
was studied. Apparently, this had never been
attempted in an offshore environment but appeared
entirely feasible. The techniques and equipment
were developed and used on the first platform
installed in 1971. Of the 248 foundations at
Ekofisk, 84% utilized bell foundations ranging In
diameter from 2.7 to 6.1 m (9 to 20 ft). Contin-
ued refinements in technique have resulted in
continued reductions in the time needed to install
bell foundations.
Installation of the Phase II platforms and
equipment called for the use of some of the largest
302
offshore construction equipment in the world. The
decision to begin using modular construction to
reduce expensive offshore construction time by
assembling entire packages of equipment onshore in
modules weighing hundreds of tonnes necessitated
this. In 1973, the largest derrick barge in tile
world, the 1,090 tonne (1,200 ton) "Champion" was
being used at Ekofisk. In the summer of that year
a 1,045 tonne (1,150 ton) lift, the largest in the
world at that time, was made.
Phase II production was originally planned to
commence in May 1972 but actual production did not
begin until April 1974. Complete redesign of all
the platforms due to re-evaluation of wave height
data was a major factor in this slippage. Project
slippage was also attributable to industry in-
experience in the North Sea, weather downtime and
other major design changes such as those encoun-
tered with the compressors. These problems result-
ed in a final cost for Phase II of $477,000,000
compared to an early anticipated cost of
$175,000,000.
Drilling of the 40 Phase II wells was rela-
tively trouble free with an average time of 60
days/well including driving the 760 mm (30 in)
conductor, completing and testing the well. Wells
with deviation angles in excess of 55 degrees were
drilled sucessfully.
Although full of accomplishments, Phase II
was not without its problems. The original Phase
II risers were protected in the splash zone by a
4 mm (5/32 in) coating of coal tar, fiberglass and
felt wrapping and a 38 mm (l~ in) coating of
concrete. A riser failure causing a fire and
platform damage on 2/4-A resulted in a redesign of
splash zone riser protection. The redesign was a
Monel sheathed steel jacket with the annulus
between the jacket and the riser filled with
cement. In addition to the problem with the high
stage compressors, a failure occurred in the fresh
water chilled, high stage compressor gas inter-
cooler. This was caused by corrosion attributable
to installation and testing technique and prolonged
atmospheric exposure before putting into service.
Minor problems with downhole safety valves, chokes
and wellheads were also encountered.
PHASE III
Phase III as originally planned called for
connecting outlying fields, laying a submarine gas
line and possibly laying an oil line. With the
size of the first five fields confirmed and the
discovery of Albuskjell and Edda fields in 1972
(Fig. 2), this Phase took on a new dimension. The
decision was made to tie the six outlying fields
into a central processing facility at Ekofisk
Center. This facility, located on top of the
underwater storage tank, would produce a 100 Reid
vapor pressure NGL-crude oil mixture for delivery
by pipeline to a crude stabilizing, loading and
NGL fractionation plant at Teesside, England. The
low hydrocarbon dew point residue gas from Ekofisk
Center would be piped to a treating plant at
Emden, Germany. Pipelines to Norway were evaluated
and determined not feasible because of the depth
of the Norwegian trench located between Ekofisk
and Norway.
 After the decision to construct oil and gas
pipelines, approval was requested of the Norwegian
Government for laying a 58 million t/a (1 MMBOPD)
oil line and a 56 million m3 /d (2,100 MMCFD) gas
line. The Norwegian Ministry decided that the
State Oil Company, now Statoil, should take a 50%
interest in each line. Consequently, Norpipe
a.s., a 50/50 joint stock company between the
Phillips Norway Group and Statoil, was formed.
The Phillips Norway Group constructed and is
operator of the two lines on behalf of Norpipe.
In the meantime plans were developed for the
laying of two of the largest and longest submarine
pipelines ever built. Although the Norwegians had
not given approval for the landfall sites, plans
went ahead assuming Teesside and Emden would
eventually be approved. The designs called for an
864 mm (34 in), 354 km (220 mil oil line and a 914
mm (36 in), 443 km (274 mil gas line. Each of the
lines was to have two intermediate booster plat-
forms which were necessitated by the large volumes
involved. This was the first time that boosters
had been utilized offshore. With the booster
platforms in operation, nominal capacities are
160,000 m3 /d (1 MMBOPD) for the oil line and 56
million m3 /d (2,100 MMCFD) for the gas line.
THE OIL PIPELINE
Approval for the Teesside location was finally
given on May 4, 1973 and the first lay barge
commenced work on May 5. Laying of the line was
divided into three segments with one contractor
selected for each. Two contractors completed
their sections in 1973 and moved over to assist
the third. Bad weather, however, forced a shut-
down in November. Work was resumed in February
1974 and laying was completed May 23. In May and
September 1974 booster platforms 37/4-A and 36/22-
A were installed. The subsea connections of the
line and platform risers were made using HydroBall/
HydroCouples. The crude reception facilities,
tank farm and one loading jetty were ready at
Teesside in 1975 and delivery of low vapor pres-
sure crude (9 RVP) began flowing to Teesside on
October 19, 1975. The booster pump packages were
not scheduled for completion at the intermediate
pump platforms until September 1977 but the ini-
tiating pump equipment had already been installed
on the Phase II platform, 2/4-p, at Ekofisk Complex
(Fig. 3 and 4). With its three centrifugal pumps,
2/4-p was capable of delivering 86,200 m3 /d
(542,400 BOPD) to Teesside. Therefore, as early
as October 1975, part of Phase III went into
operation. Considerable work remained before all
of Phase III was operational. In fact, drilling
of some Phase III wells is not expected to be
complete until 1983 or thirteen years after the
discovery of Ekofisk.
THE GAS PIPELINE
As with the oil line, laying of the gas line
commenced within hours after the final notification
from the Norwegian and German governments that
pipeline permits had been issued. This was April
5, 1974 and by 4 November, 424 km (262 mil of pipe
had been laid and only a 3.2 km (2 mil portion
near the Ekofisk Complex and a 16 km (10 mil land
portion remained. Hook up of the gas line was
completed in August 1977 with the compressors at
303
Ekofisk Center capable of delivering 41 million
m3 /d (1,440 MMCFD) to Emden. At that time, how-
ever, the trenching of the line, which had been a
continuous problem on both the oil and gas lines
and had caused significant delays, became a serious
obstacle to start up of the gas line. The Danish
authorities would not issue a start up permit
unless the 48 km (30 mil of line in their waters
met their criteria for a 2 m (7 ft) trench and 1
m (3 ft) of cover. Continued attempts to meet
these criteria had been made from 1974 to 1977.
During trenching operations, as many as five
passes were made in the Danish sector. It was
finally agreed that if critical areas, those with
less than a 50 cm (20 in) trench and less than 10
cm (4 in) of cover, were covered, a pipeline start
up permit would be issued. The critical areas
amounting to about 5 km (3 mil of pipe were covered
using over 625,000 sandbags and the start up
permit was issued September 14, 1977. Drying of
the gas line then commenced. This permit was
issued contingent upon the pipeline in the Danish
sector being covered to 50 cm (20 in) by June 1,
1980. A year of development went into the design
and construction of new equipment technically
capable of pipeline backfilling. These vessels
are now working on the line.
During the construction of the oil and gas
lines, industry firsts were again recorded. At
times, one half of the world's offshore pipelaying
capacity was in use on the two lines. In one day
in mid-September 1974, a total of 189 joints,
2,300 m (7,547 ft) of 914 mm (36 in) line were
hand welded on one barge. The preceding August,
155,436 m (509,959 ft), 40%, of the gas pipeline
offshore portion was laid by the four barges.
TEESSIDE FACILITIES
Facilities at Teesside actually make up two
plants. The first, owned by Norpipe Petroleum
U.K. Ltd., a 50/50 joint stock company between the
Phillips Norway Group and Statoil, includes four
7,200 m3 (45,000 bbl) receiving surge tanks and 7
desalter and crude stabilizing trains. The 5-7
RVP crude from these units is pumped to the 1.2
million m3 (7.5 million bbl) capacity tank farm at
Greatham, 5 km (3 mil away. From here it can be
loaded into tankers as large as 150,000 dwt through
any of four jetties. Normally, tankers in the
80,000 dwt range are utilized as they can operate
at the terminal in all tides and they are the most
economical for the majority of the runs which are
to northern European ports.
The NGL's from the stabilizers pass to the
second facility owned by Norsea Pipeline Ltd., a
100% Phillips Norway Group company. These faci-
lities include 2 de-ethanizers, 1 demethanizer, 2
depropanizers, 1 butane splitter, 1 isobutane
depropanizer and over 240,000 m3 (1.5 million
bbls) of refrigerated storage. These facilities
can process 11,000 m3 /d (70,000 BPD) of NGL's.
There will be two berths for handling refrigerated
LPG and three berths for loading pressurized
NGL's.
As mentioned, oil deliveries began October
19, 1975 and at that time Jetty No. 1 was complete
and eight storage tanks installed. To date all
crude storage is complete as well as all jetties.
Teesside stabilization and NGL processing facili-
ties were originally forecast to be completed by
October 1975. However, continued delays have been
experienced due to various problems including
labor difficulties, late delivery of materials,
and receipt of off-spec material from suppliers.
NGL facilities and four of the stabilizers are now
expected to be operational the second quarter of
1979. At that time 100 RVP crude can be delivered
from the offshore facilities and the final opera-
tional mode at Ekofisk achieved.
EMDEN PLANT
In contrast to the Teesside facilities, cons-
truction at Emden has progressed relatively close
to schedule. The facilities at Emden are owned by
Norsea Gas A/S, a 100% Phillips Norway Group
company. Facilities include 9 molecular sieve
treating trains and facilities for the sale of 56
million m3 /d (2,100 MMCFD). This represents one
of the largest facilities of its kind in the
world. The installation of six of the mole sieve
units was complete in July 1976. At that time the
plant was ready to receive gas but the pipeline
was not operational. With the completion of a
further three units in June 1977 this facility
took on a new distinction as one of the few plants
to be expanded before operations began. Gas sales
began September 17,1977 after approval by Denmark
of pipeline start up. Distribution is to Ruhrgas
AG, West Germany, Gasunie NV, Netherlands,
Distrigaz SA, Belgium and Gaz de France. An
average of 20 million m3 /d (735 MMCFD) has been
handled by the plant since start up with a single
daily maximum sales of 30.6 million m3 (1,143
MMCF). To date, there has been no downtime due
to operational problems.
FIELD FACILITIES
As work progressed on the oil and gas pipe-
lines and at Teesside and Emden, field construction
was in full swing. The major additional facilities
of Phase III and their current status are as
follows (Figs. 3 and 4):
West Ekofisk Field - The 8 leg drilling
platform, 2/4-D, was installed in April 1974. All
equipment was installed and drilling commenced by
January 1975. All 12 wells were completed by
September 1977 for an average drilling and comple-
tion time of 71 days/well. Drilling was suspended
from December 1975 through May 1976 while this
platform was used as quarters for the personnel
needed for repairs of platform 2/4-A after the
riser failure and fire. The 610 mm (24 in), 8 km
(5 mil oil and gas line was completed in 1976.
Production commenced from West Ekofisk on May 31,
1977 and current production is 11,000 m3 /d (70,000
BOPD) .
Cod Field - Platform 7/11-A, an 8 leg drill-
ing and production platform, was installed by
August 1975. Production equipment consists of a
first stage separator initially operating at
11,000 kPa (1,385 psia) and dehydration facilities.
An allowance has been made for future compression
when reservoir pressure declines. The dehydrated
oil and gas streams are recombined and flow through
304
a 406 mm (16 in), 76 km (47 mil two phase pipeline
to Ekofisk Center. Drilling commenced on Cod in
August 1976 and all 8 wells were completed by
October 1977 for an average of 50 days/ well.
Production from six Cod wells began December 28,
1977. Production from Cod is varied with gas
sales demand and is therefore cyclical. Antici-
pated maximum rate is 2.6 million m3 /d (90 MMCFD).
Tor Field - This is a unitized field between
the Phillips Norway Group owning 74.5% and the
Amoco/Noco Group owning 25.5%. The platform, 2/4-
E, is an 8 leg combination drilling and production
platform installed in June 1976. Separation
initially operates at 8,790 kPa (1,275 psia). The
oil stream then flows to Ekofisk Center through a
305 mm (12 in), 12 km (7.5 mil line and the gas,
after dehydration, is piped through a 356 mm (14
in) line. The lines are owned 100% by the Phillips
Norway Group. Again, provisions have been made to
install future compression at Tor. Tor drilling
commenced in February 1977 and its 12 wells should
be completed the fourth quarter of 1979. Pro-
duction to Ekofisk Center commenced on June 28,
1978. Permission has been given to simultaneously
drill and produce on Tor, however, regulations
concerning simultaneous drilling and production
will make drilling of these wells slower than
originally anticipated.
Early operation at Tor was complicated by
problems in hydrotesting the oil pipeline. To
facilitate start up, gas and oil production were
recombined at Tor and flowed to Ekofisk Center
through the gas line until the oil line was suc-
cessfully tested. This was just one of the several
improvizations that had to be made in order to
minimize slippages in schedules and maximize
production.
Edda Field - Platform 2/7-C is a 12 leg
drilling and production platform. The platform
was installed and all packages set by April 1978.
Separation at Edda will operate at 3,550 kPa (515
psia). The oil will flow to Ekofisk Center via a
254 mm (10 in), 13 km (8 mil line. The gas will
be compressed, dehydrated and piped to Ekofisk
Center via a 305 mm (12 in) line. These lines
should be laid and riser tie-ins completed in
April 1979. Drilling should commence in December
1978 with production start up anticipated for July
1979 assuming approval for simultaneous drilling
and production is given. Drilling of the 13 wells
should be completed by November 1981.
Albuskjell Field - This field is a 50/50 unit
between the Phillips Norway Group and Norske
Shell. Development calls for two 12 leg drilling
and production platforms, 2/4-F and 1/6-A. These
will be jointly owned by the Phillips Norway Group
and Shell. Phillips will be the operator for the
field. Both platforms were installed and all
drilling and production packages set by November
1977. Fifteen wells will be drilled from each
platform by mid 1981. Drilling commenced on both
platforms the first quarter of 1978. Separation
on each platform will operate at 8,830 kPa (1,280
psia) and the gas will be dehydrated on the indi-
vidual platforms. Compressor facilities will be
added at a later date. pipelay and tie-in of the
457 mm (18 in) oil line and 610 mm (24 in) gas
line between 1/6-A and 2/4-F, 7.6 km (4.7 mil, and
2/4-F and Ekofisk Center, 13 km (8 mil, should be
completed the first quarter of 1979. As with Tor,
the pipelines are owned by the Phillips Norway
Group. Start up of all facilities should be in
the second quarter of 1979.
Eldfisk Field - Eldfisk development will
consist of three major platforms. Platform 2/7-A
is a 12 leg, 2 rig drilling platform connected to
an 8 leg production platform, 2/7-FTP. All pack-
ages were set on these two platforms by November
1977. Drilling of the first well from both rigs
commenced in May 1978. Drilling of all 30 wells
is scheduled to be completed the second quarter of
1981. Separation on 2/7-FTP will be operated at
3,550 kPa (515 psia). The gas will be compressed
and dehydrated. Both streams will be piped the
5.6 km (3.5 mil to platform 2/7-B via a 610 mm (24
in) oil line and a 760 mm (30 in) gas line.
Platform 2/7-B is a 12 leg drilling and
production platform. All 2/7-B packages were set
by May 1978. Drilling of 19 wells is scheduled to
commence in January 1979. Separation at 2/7-B
will also operate at 3,550 kPa (515 psia) and the
oil will join that from 2/7-FTP and be piped to
Ekofisk Center via a 610 mm (24 in), 18 km (11 mil
line. The gas will be compressed, dehydrated and
then joined with the gas from 2/7-FTP for transfer
to Ekofisk Center Vla a 760 mm (30 in) pipeline.
The drilling and production schedule for
those fields in which drilling is not yet complete
is dependent upon Norwegian regulations concerning
simultaneous drilling and production. As men-
tioned, permission has been given to drill and
produce on Tor. As a result drilling will be
slower than anticipated and certain production
shut downs will be necessary. By maintaining a
safe operation at Tor it is believed that simul-
taneous drilling and production will be allowed on
other platforms. If not allowed, production from
Eldfisk, Albuskjell and Edda could be delayed.
Each of the production platforms of Phase III
will be connected to an emergency flare tripod.
These flares, including bridge support tripods,
will total 10 structures. These, in conjunction
with the drilling and production platforms for
outlying fields, the booster platforms on the oil
and gas lines and the interconnected structures at
Ekofisk Complex result in a total of 38 structures
necessary for Greater Ekofisk development.
EKOFISK COMPLEX
The facilities and platforms in the line of
interconnected structures making up Ekofisk Complex
were expanded during Phase III. The pump packages
for initial operation of the oil line were in-
stalled on platform 2/4-p. A 12 leg riser plat-
form, 2/4-R, was installed north of the tank for
tie-in of all the oil and gas lines from outlying
platforms. Also located on 2/4-R are additional
gas compression and separation equipment to
complement Ekofisk Center. North of 2/4-R, a
second emergency flare platform was installed
along with a final bridge support tripod. Total
length of the interconnected structures now
exceeds 1,200 m (4,000 ft).
305
Ekofisk Center - With the start up of the oil
line, the underwater storage tank had fulfilled
its initial purpose. Provisions had been made,
however, for a steel deck completely covering the
tank at the 20 m (66 ft) level and for a concrete
deck covering 65% of that deck at the 30 m (98 ft)
level. These two decks provided over 10,700 m2
(115,000 ft2) of space for all central processing
equipment. The 20 m (66 ft) deck was completed
before towing the tank to location and the 30 m
(98 ft) deck constructed offshore. In order to
process the 160,000 m3 /d (1 MMBOPD) and 56 million
m3 /d (2,100 MMCFD), Ekofisk Center has three 7,000
kPa (1,015 psia) separators, one 1,830 kPa (265
psia) separator, two 690 kPa (100 psia) separators,
various miscellaneous separators, 3 glycol dehy-
dration units, 3 gas processing (dew point) units,
gas pipeline compressors, heat exchangers, coolers,
hot oil furnaces, communications and a computer
controlled/satellite telemetry system.
Ekofisk Center began operation in February
1977. However, due to the incompletion of Tees-
side, 100 RVP crude could not be delivered.
Again, major improvizations were necessary in
order to limit vapor pressure to 10 RVP. With gas
delivery to Emden possible, dew point processing
began through the facilities on the Center. The
decision was made to temporarily change the in-
tended functions of Ekofisk Center and 2/4-FTP to
allow all crude production, even from outlying
fields, to be processed on 2/4-FTP. This allowed
second and third stage separators at the Center to
be used strictly for NGL handling. All gas vapors
were routed to Ekofisk Center dew point facilities
and pumps were installed on 2/4-c in order to re-
inject the NGL's into the formation, another
industry first, while maximizing oil and gas
production. Capabilities for spiking NGL's into
the crude line were also made. Utilizing this
system allows production of 80,000 m3 /d (500,000
BOPD), 34 million m3 /d (1,200 MMCFD) with 6,400
m3 /d (40,000 BPD) NGL re-injected.
As 2/4-FTP facilities had not been designed
for these high rates, it was apparent that as
additional production came on stream, the first
stage operating pressure of 7,000 kPa (1,015 psia)
would result in overloading of the second and
third stage gas recompressors. Original plans
called for a reduction of the first stage pressure
to 3,500 kPa (500 psia) and the installation of
first stage compressors. To alleviate second and
third stage overload this step was expedited and
the 3,500 kPa (500 psia) compressors began opera-
tion on March 15, 1978.
Oil production at Greater Ekofisk is related
to gas demand which results in producing rates
being cyclical. Peak production to date occurred
last winter when oil production from Ekofisk, West
Ekofisk and Cod reached a maximum of 66,000 m3 /d
(415,000 BOPD) with gas sales of 30.6 million m3 /d
(1,143 MMCFD). Current forecasts call for a peak
average annual production for the Phillips Norway
Group of 100,000 m3 /d (650,000 BPD) of oil and 45
million m3 /d (1,600 MMCFD) of gas and 8,000 m3 /d
(50,000 BPD) of NGL's.
The number of personnel involved in the
construction of Phase III has been phenomenal. In
late 1976 and early 1977 when offshore hook up and
construction as well as construction at Teesside
were at a peak, total manpower was as high as
13,500 people.
Present offshore personnel total 2,000.
These people are housed in permanent offshore
quarters capable of accommodating 802 people under
new Norwegian regulations for two men per room and
in four offshore drilling rigs converted to float-
ing hotels, "flotels". Transportation of these
personnel is by helicopter. Fourteen flights per
day transport a total of 213 people between
Stavanger and Greater Ekofisk. Including shuttling
between platforms, a total of 180,000 personnel
were transported last year.
Of the 802 permanent quarters, 280 are located
at the Ekofisk Complex. These accommodations
include the 212 man, 106 room hotel platform, 2/4-
H, (Fig. 3). This 4 leg platform with modules,
connected by a bridge to 2/4-c, was installed in
1977. At a cost of $1,000,000 per room it must be
one of the most expensive hotels in the world. It
is 5 stories high with 9,600 m2 (103,000 ft2) of
floor space including the utility deck. Facilities
will include a 186 seat cinema, 8 bed hospital,
Fig. 1 North Sea development.
306
cafeteria, sauna and exerClse room.
To complement all facilities in the Greater
Ekofisk Area, the world's first specially cons-
tructed semi-submersible utility and emergency
vessel, the Sedco/Phillips SS was built. This
vessel took up station in November 1977 and will
serve as a floating workshop, diving base, fire
station, hospital and hotel during its initial
five year tenure at Greater Ekofisk.
CONCLUSION
Development of Greater Ekofisk is close to
completion. Construction should be finalized in
1979. Development drilling in all fields should
be completed by 1983. Total estimated development
cost to the Phillips Norway Group is $5.2 billion.
Four fields are currently on production. The long
awaited revenue to repay the risks and efforts
undertaken by the Phillips Norway Group is being
realized. These past nine years of development
have resulted in many technological advancements
for the industry. Additional technological
advances should continue to be realized as the
project moves into its final phase - The Operation
of Greater Ekofisk.
 1,--~c------------:;;
M iM ..'"

I i

u..1
WEKOJSK~
'-I~
I
!

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EL~SK
)J ber
1970 I

--
o ,
'';,,,,.,

i
"00

Fig. 2 Greater Ekofisk fields.

7/11A
,/aA
COD
IS" OIL &
24" GAS
~~2/4F
ALBUSKJELL jj'4E:-:-
4.7 MI.
7-6 Km.)
,
----X'_
B /~~
-
TOR 0

/
16" 0 & G \ ,S"OIL & /
46.8 MI. 24" GAS
(76 Km.) ~ MI.
13 Km.b- 12" OIL &
14" GAS
7.5 MI.
R 112 Km.)
WEST 2/4D

EKOFISK~b --=. \\~""!'<IJ_--3

= 24" 0 & G
5 MI.

7
7/4~ (SKm.)
GNSC/S-l1

2/4A \ A --:... 36"

GAS
.I' \ __ 274 MI.
=
~
::3'i!r ':' 11 MI. 24"OIL & 443Km.)

;V E~~;--==-llf
36/22A 0
= .
.
10"OIL &
12"GAS 8 MI.
(13 Km.)
-=J=

--= /S.6KJ1'
{1SKm.)30"GAS-
'--
2/7S

EL~~7~K
-=

/OOIC/H-7
/1
4" OIL
220 MI.
~_ _ _ _"'-:--r_-",/3~S4,,-,K"'im.)
3.5
24"OIL & co
Mi~ 0
_
2/7FTP
"
n--,...-....;,---:7===,
30" GAS.-=.

TEESSIDE. ENGLAND EMDEN, GERMANY VIII

Fig. 3 Greater Ekofisk development plan.

 NORWEGIAN NORTH SEA COMPLEX

==,-----i---~,.'~.~,.~-- '\', "-----

VOlin OI'VI.-f''''

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JlZlZ<D
:~~~ ~

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'"

!to . . ..,
tl_ ..e ,

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'\.121)

-------'~ """ -~

~ ON PLANT
TUE~E~SI~DE~C.~U~D~E~O~IL~ST~A~.~IL~IZ~AT~I~~~

Fig. 4 Greater Ekofisk flow schematic.