US-based ConocoPhillips has commenced oil production from the Ekofisk South development project in the Norwegian North Sea.
One well is currently under production in the Ekofisk South project, while the project includes the planned drilling of 35 new production wells and eight water injection wells.
The company is carrying drilling operations on additional wells, which are expected to start production in the next four years.
ConocoPhillips exploration and production executive vice president Matt Fox said that Ekofisk is the first of several new major project startups that will contribute to the company’s growth over the next few years.
“In Norway, a second project, Eldfisk II, is scheduled to start up by early 2015,” Fox added. According to the company, Ekofisk South, along with Eldfisk II and other development projects offshore Norway, will produce around 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2017.
The Greater Ekofisk area is situated around 200 miles offshore Stavanger, which includes four producing fields such as Ekofisk, Eldfisk, Embla and Tor.
Crude oil from these fields is exported through pipeline to Teesside, England, and natural gas flows through pipeline to Emden, Germany.
ConocoPhillips is the operator of the Greater Ekofisk area with 35.1%, while Total has 39.9% interest, and Eni, Statoil, Petoro owns 12.4%, 7.6% and 5% interest respectively.
