Breidablikk oil field lies north-east of Grane field on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). Credit: Equinor.
Aker Solutions’ Vectus™ subsea control system will be installed to remotely control the oil and production systems at the seafloor. Credit: Aker Solutions ASA.
The Breidablikk oil field is expected to commence production in February 2024. Credit: Arne Reidar Mortensen / Equinor ASA.

Breidablikk oil field (previously known as Grand) is being developed approximately 185km west of Haugesund on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in the North Sea.

Located north-east of Grane offshore oil field in the North Sea, the field is co-owned by Equinor (operator), Petoro, Var Energi, and ConocoPhilips Skandinavia.

Breidablikk is one of the largest oil discoveries on the NCS, with estimated total recoverable reserves of approximately 30 million standard cubic metres (Sm³) of oil, which is equivalent to 200 million barrels.

The development of the Breidablikk oil field is estimated to cost approximately Nkr18.6bn ($1.9bn). The plan for its development and operation (PDO) was submitted to Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy in September 2020. First oil from the field is expected in February 2024.

Breidablikk oil field geology and discovery

Breidablikk oil field discovery was proven in 1992 and comprises the 25/11-27 (F structure) and the 25/8-4 discoveries (D structure).

A wildcat well 25/11-27 was drilled at a water depth of 130m, approximately 5km north-east of the Grane field in May 2013, to a total depth of 1,890m in the Late Cretaceous Tor Formation using the semi-submersible installation Songa Trym.

The 25/8-4 discovery (D structure) is located at a water depth of 130m, 8km north-east of the Grane field. The well 25/8-18 S was spudded for the delineation of the discovery in 2014.

The oil was found to be of excellent quality at a depth of 1,750m in the Paleocene reservoir sandstones in the Heimdal formation. The reservoir is estimated to cover an area of approximately 37km².

Seismic study of the field showed the presence of additional hydrocarbons in thinner sand zones called injectites.

Breidablikk oil field development details

Breidablikk oil field is planned to be developed with 23 production wells that will be tied-back to the existing Grane facility via four subsea templates, containing six slots each.

Oil extracted from the field will be processed at the Grane facility and transported onshore to the Sture terminal in Hordaland county for storage and export. The project will improve the recovery from the Grane area.

A total of 23 lightweight vertical subsea trees will be installed at the Breidablikk field, in two phases. The subsea production system and associated equipment including 15 subsea trees will be installed in the first phase, while the remaining eight subsea trees will be deployed in the next phase.

Details of the Grane facility

The Grane field was discovered in 1991 and was developed with a steel-jacketed integrated drilling, processing and living facility, containing 40 slots. First oil from the field was produced in September 2003.

The Svalin field, located 8km south-west of Grane, was tied-back to the Grane platform. The expected lifetime of Grane platform is until 2043, which can potentially be extended through production from the Breidablikk field.

Control and monitoring systems

Aker Solutions’ Vectus™ subsea control system will be installed at the Breidablikk field, for improved data and power capacities. It is a subsea electronics module that remotely controls the oil and production systems at the seafloor.

A control cable system for electricity and communication, known as DC/FO, will allow the use of docking stations for subsea drones on the seafloor.

Production at the Grane platform will be monitored with the help of advanced digital equipment from Equinor’s integrated operations centre (IOC) located at Sandsli in Bergen for optimal production from the wells.

Contractors involved

Aker Solutions received a contract worth Nkr2.5bn ($260.7m) from Equinor to supply subsea production system for the Breidablikk oil field development in September 2020.

TechnipFMC was contracted for pipe-laying and subsea installation at the field in June 2020. Wood performed studies for Breidablikk project and won a contract worth $84m in September 2020 to provide engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) services for the project.

Odfjell Drilling signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Equinor for a contract worth $290m for the drilling and completion of the Breidablikk project. Deepsea Aberdeen rig will be used for the of 15 wells, with an option to drill a further nine wells. The contract is yet to be finalised, though.