Gaz de France Norway is about to carry out major, exciting tasks on the Norwegian continental shelf. Gjøa will more than anything else be an exponent of Integrated Operations.

“The success of Gaz de France Norway will be measured by managing to operate the Gjøa field safely and efficiently from day one,” says Managing Director Terje Overvik. (Photo: Nina Eirin Rangøy)

Terje Overvik took over as managing director of the French energy giant’s Norwegian affiliate last year. Now he and his staff are facing huge challenges as those responsible for the operation of the Gjøa field when it comes into production in late 2010.
“Our success depends on whether we manage to operate Gjøa in a safe and efficient manner,” says Mr Overvik.

Advanced – and complicated
He describes the Gjøa field as an advanced and in part complicated field which will consist of Gjøa and an additional three satellite fields. Gjøa is one of the major projects to be developed in Norway after Snøhvit and Ormen Lange. It is a gas field with a thin oil rim located in the North Sea. Gaz de France Norway will take over from Statoil as operator when production starts in 2010.
As part of the cooperation with Statoil, Gaz de France Norway staff have been integrated into the project team, and their main role is to provide operational input to the design and develop necessary systems, procedures and IT applications for the operations phase, in addition to recruiting personnel.
The export of oil is planned to take place through a new 53 km pipe­line tied in to the pipeline going from the Troll C platform to the Mongstad terminal. Gas is planned to be exported through a new 130 km pipeline, ending up at the St. Fergus gas terminal in Scotland.
Mr Overvik was a key member of Statoil’s staff when the project was established, and Statoil was responsible for developing the field. This is the first time Gaz de France is responsible for the operation of such a large offshore installation.

Forefront of modern technology
Gjøa will be an exponent of integrated operations using advanced technology, efficient working processes and data management.
The Integrated Operations concept basically means that people offshore and onshore work closely together in order to make high quality decisions based on real-time data.
”The result has proven to be improved regularity and safer, more profitable operations,” says Mr Overvik. He believes that more or less all the fields on the Norwegian continental shelf will invest in this way of working.

Great ambitions
”We have ambitions to be in the driving seat for the area around Gjøa,” he continues.
“Furthermore, in 2008, we will participate in ap­proximately 5-6 exploration wells and be the operator of our first exploration well in 2009. In addition, we are in the midst of strong production growth. Norway will undoubtedly be important to us in the years to come.”