Development

Yme is a field in the southeastern part of the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, 130 kilometres northeast of the Ula field. The water depth is 100 metres. The field comprises two separate main structures, Gamma and Beta, which are 12 kilometres apart. Yme was discovered in 1987, and the plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 1995. Yme was originally developed with a jack-up drilling and production platform on the Gamma structure and a storage vessel. The Beta structure was developed with a subsea template. The production started in 1996 and ceased in 2001, because operation of the field was no longer regarded as profitable. A PDO for the redevelopment of Yme was approved in 2007. The development concept was a new mobile offshore production unit (MOPU). Due to structural deficiencies and the vast amount of outstanding work to complete the facility, it was decided to remove it from the field in 2013. The removal of the MOPU was completed in 2016. In 2018, an amended PDO for the redevelopment of Yme was approved. The PDO includes a jack-up rig equipped with drilling and production facilities installed on the Gamma structure and a subsea template on the Beta structure, as well as reuse of existing facilities on the field. The production started again in 2021.

Reservoir

The reservoir contains oil in two separate main structures, Gamma and Beta. The structures comprise six deposits. The reservoirs are in sandstone of Middle Jurassic age in the Sandnes Formation, at a depth of 3150 metres. They are heterogeneous and have variable properties.

Recovery strategy

The field is produced by pressure support from partial water injection and water alternating gas (WAG) injection. Some of the wells are equipped with gas lift.

Transport

The oil is transported with tankers and the gas is reinjected.

Status

Yme has overcome the start-up challenges from previous years; however, production in 2024 has been lower than anticipated, mostly due to the delay of infill drilling.