Development

Ringhorne Øst is a field in the central part of the North Sea, six kilometres northeast of the Balder field. The water depth is 130 metres. Ringhorne Øst was discovered in 2003, and the plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 2005. The field is developed with four production wells drilled from the Ringhorne wellhead platform. The production started in 2006.

Reservoir

Ringhorne Øst produces oil with associated gas from Jurassic sandstone in the Statfjord Group. The reservoir is at a depth of 1940 metres and has very good quality.

Recovery strategy

The field is produced by natural water drive from a regional aquifer to the north and east of the structure. The wells have gas lift to optimise production, and this will be expanded due to increasing water production.

Transport

Production is routed from the Ringhorne wellhead platform to the Balder production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) for processing, storage and export. The oil is transported by tankers. Any surplus gas is sent to the Jotun FPSO for export via Statpipe to the Kårstø terminal.

Status

The field is in its tail production phase. A new infill well is planned to be drilled. Ringhorne Øst will also benefit from an amended PDO for Balder and Ringhorne that was approved in 2020. Field lifetime will be prolonged, and production can benefit from increased capacity in the area. The Jotun FPSO is currently at a shipyard undergoing maintenance and upgrades. It is scheduled to be back on the field in 2024. Until then, excess gas is being injected in the Balder and Ringhorne Øst fields.