Aker BP, PGNiG prepare King Lear development plan
Norwegian producer Aker BP and its Polish partner PGNiG have begun preparing a plan of development and operation (PDO) for the King Lear gas field off Norway, PGNiG said on December 13.
The filing of a PDO in Norway is comparable to taking a final investment decision, as once that plan is approved, the companies are committed to the project. PGNiG said the pair had awarded contracts for front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for Lear, which will define the project's scope, schedule and cost.
The Lear discovery was made in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea in 2012. The field is estimated to hold 11bn m3 of recoverable gas and additional volumes of oil and other liquids.
A preliminary concept envisages Lear starting up by the end of 2027. The field would host four wells connected to infrastructure at the Aker BP-operated Valhall field some 50 km away. Infrastructure at Valhall is electrified, which will help minimise emissions at Lear, giving it a carbon footprint of 1.5 kg of CO2/barrel of oil equivalent, according to PGNiG, versus a Norwegian average of 8 kg.
Aker BP has a 77.8% stake in Lear while PGNiG has 22.2%. The Polish company, which is looking to produce more gas in Norway to send back to Poland via the Baltic Pipe, estimated that Lear would yield 1.49bn m3 of gas and 1.16mn metric tons of oil at its full annual capacity.