ENI Goliat Subsea Project to be subsea wells linked to circular FPSO
Eni Norge, as operator for the Goliat field has today submitted the Impact Assessment Plan (IA) to the MPE. The IA Plan addresses the development and operation of the Goliat oil field which is located in Production License 229/229B in the south-western Barents Sea. The Goliat Field IA Plan has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Act and the stipulated assessment guideline. The MPE will be responsible for coordinating and carrying out the consultation process.The plan is an important milestone for the Goliat Project. A balanced management of value creation, regional sustainability, environmental impact and emission reduction has been the main driver of the plan.
Taking into account all these aspects, the licensees are recommending that Goliat will be developed using subsea wells linked to a circular floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO). Key criteria in the selection of this concept in preference to the landfall solutions have been that the FPSO is better from an environmental perspective, provides better opportunities for the growth of oil and gas-related activity in the Barents Sea, is utilizing more mature technology, and will incur significantly lower investment costs.
Use of the circular FPSO also makes it possible to utilise a power supply concept for the project based on electricity supplied from land combined with a gas turbine on the offshore installation. This will result in significantly lower levels of CO2 emissions.
Because of the environmental terms of reference and the importance of the Barents Sea coastal areas, we will also take steps to enhance and strengthen coastal oil spill contingency plans. The plan includes decentralised oil spill contingency organisation based on local resources.
Eni Norge has also decided to locate its regional office in Hammerfest. In addition, activity linked to the Goliat development will provide continuous and significantly increased activity for both the supply and helicopter bases in Hammerfest. Together with the offshore organisation, these operations will initially provide between 150 and 200 direct jobs during the operations phase. In addition, a significant number of indirect jobs will be created.
The licensees also believe that the recommended operational phase development concept will provide major opportunities to establish skills and expertise and to promote employment and commercial activity throughout the region.
