Planned production start is around the end of 2020-early 2021 and will make good use of existing infrastructure in the area – pipelines as well as the process facility on the Gjoa installation – which is also operated by Neptune. It will cost NKr 5.5bn ($640mn).

Neptune said the submission "represents an important milestone for Neptune Energy and its partners. With these development plans, Neptune is entering a period of growth on the Norwegian shelf with a very high activity level. We already operate the Fenja development in the Norwegian Sea, with production expected to start up early 2021. Together with the Duva and Gjoa P1 projects, this is a unique project portfolio.”

Developed with a four-slot subsea template, the field will have three production wells, two oil producers and one gas producer, with the possibility of another oil well.

Duva is in production licence 636, 35 km from land in Hordaland and about 60 km north of the Troll field. It was formerly owned by French Engie, whose upsream assets Neptune bought.

The reserves in Duva are estimated at 23.3mn barrels of oil and condensate; 8.39bn m³ of sales gas; and 1.03mn metric tons of natural gas liquids. Duva will be developed with a subsea facility tied in to Gjoa, about 6 km away. The oil and gas in Duva will be produced from two oil wells and one gas well. The expected production time on Duva is 13 years.

Neptune is also operator of production licence 153, Gjoa, and is also submitting a PDO exemption application for the P1 project on behalf of the licensees in this production licensee. The licensees consist of Neptune (30%), Norwegian state direct financial interest firm Petoro (30%), Wintershall (20%), Okea (12%) and DEA (8%). Winbtershall and DEA expect to have all approvals to merge by the end of June.