Subsea Integration Alliance Completes Installation of Base Structure for OKEA Project in North Sea

The Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA), a collaboration between United States-based OneSubsea and United Kingdom’s Subsea7, has successfully delivered and installed a crucial structure for a project being developed by Norway’s OKEA in the North Sea.

The subsea template for the Bestla project, designed to serve as the foundation for all underwater infrastructure, has been put in place by the alliance. This structure will support oil and gas wells, associated equipment, and facilitate the integration of pipelines and cables.

Project Details

This milestone marks the beginning of the execution phase for the Bestla project, which will be connected to the Brage platform on the OKEA-operated Brage field, located 13 kilometers away in the North Sea.

Subsea7 handled the installation of the template, which was designed in Pune, India by OneSubsea and fabricated at Aker Solutions’ facility in Egersund, Norway. The next steps include the delivery of wellheads and the assembly of subsea trees in Curitiba, Brazil.

Integrated Subsea Production System

SIA is providing a fully integrated subsea production system for the Bestla project, covering subsea tree systems, controls, umbilicals, and installation through a collaborative contract with OKEA. This approach aims to reduce risk, simplify interfaces, and expedite the time to first oil.

Project Background

Formerly known as Brasse, the Bestla project was renamed in November and represents a significant oil and gas discovery in license PL740 made in 2017. The asset is located in the Troll-Oseberg area of the North Sea, adjacent to the Brage field.

The development of the Bestla field, estimated to hold 24 million barrels of oil equivalent gross in recoverable reserves, involves a two-well subsea tie-back to the Brage platform for production, processing, and export purposes.

Partners and Timeline

The partners in PL740 include OKEA (operator and 39.27% interest holder), DNO Norge AS (39.27%), Lime Petroleum AS (17%), and M Vest Energy AS (4.4%). The final investment decision (FID) was made in April 2024, with the plan for development and operation (PDO) submitted a month later.

Overall, the completion of the base structure installation by SIA marks a significant step towards the realization of the Bestla project, showcasing the collaborative efforts of industry leaders in the oil and gas sector.