Ekofisk Growth start-up with 2/4 M

by Gunleiv Hadland, Norwegian Petroleum Museum

The Ekofisk 2/4 M platform – part of the Ekofisk Growth project – came on stream on 23 October 2005 from five predrilled wells. Petroleum and energy minister Odd Roger Enoksen undertook the official opening on 9 January 2006.

Kjappe fakta:

2/4 M was installed on the field in the summer of 2005
On stream 23 October 2005
Officially inaugurated on 9 January 2006

— Ekofisk 2/4 M. Photo: Kjetil Alsvik/ConocoPhillips

Ekofisk Growth aimed to improve oil and gas recovery from the field, as well as increasing process capacity and providing more reliable operation on Ekofisk. Read more.

The 2/4 M wellhead and process platform was installed as part of the Ekofisk Complex in the 2004 and 2005 summer seasons, with the jacket positioned on 6 September 2004. It is located south-east of Ekofisk 2/4 J and connected by bridge to the latter.

Since the platform has no drilling rig, its wells were drilled by mobile units. The Maersk Gallant rig began predrilling these in November 2004.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Nordsjø-Pionér, “Tidlig boring på Ekofisk 2/4 M”, November 2005.

Aker Verdal built the jacket and bridge support. Engineering for these structures was carried out by Aker Kværner Technology in Oslo. Kværner Egersund built the topsides and bridges.

The Thialf crane vessel lifted the 7 400-tonne topsides into place on 11 July 2005.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Nordsjø-Pionér, “Ekofisk Vekst: Ekofisk 2/4 M på plass”, July 2005.

Ekofisk 2/4 M is normally unmanned and remotely operated from 2/4 J. It can process a total of 240 000 barrels of oil and 8.5 scm of gas per day, and is able to treat 150 000 daily barrels of water.[REMOVE]Fotnote: http://www.tu.no/artikler/ekofisk-plattform-gir-vekst/262740.