Fossil Energy – Krafla Development
Along with Aker BP, Equinor has made an investment decision and will today submit a plan for development and operation for Krafla to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy.
Aker BP will be developing Krafla along with the Fulla and North of Alvheim discoveries in the same area.
Krafla was proven in 2011 and recoverable resources are estimated at 325 million barrels of oil equivalent. Total investments for Krafla are approx. NOK 46 billion (2022-NOK).
“Krafla is yet another example of how we are redefining what can be achieved on the Norwegian continental shelf. Krafla will be developed utilising extensive technological innovation and high levels of digitalisation, automation and remote operation, thus setting a new standard for future offshore developments. With an entirely new operating model, the technologically innovative design will improve safety, cut operating costs and result in close to zero CO2 emissions from production,” says Trond Bokn, Equinor’s senior vice president for project development.
The unmanned Krafla platform is the first of its kind. It will be remotely operated from shore and will be built without a helicopter deck, living quarters and lifeboats. Access and stays at the platform will be accomplished using service operation vessels. Systems and functions have been reduced to the bare necessities in order to realise the unmanned concept. The solutions are simple, robust and can be run without manual operations.
Future-oriented solutions have been chosen to facilitate a large extent of data-driven decisions based on continuous monitoring of processes and equipment. For example, maintenance planning will be optimised using digital twins. The plan is to carry out maintenance in annual campaigns.
With power from shore, Krafla will be a world leader in low CO2 emissions from production, calculated at 0.4 kg per barrel of oil equivalent.
