The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted permission to Neptune Energy for the start-up of a subsea installation with two new wells on Gjøa field in the North Sea.

Neptune Energy expects that the project would add 15 million barrels of oil equivalent from Gjøa.

Located in the northern part of the North Sea, Gjøa is an oil and gas field located off the coast of Florø. The two new wells are connected to the Gjøa P1, one of the seven segments on the Gjøa oil and gas field.

Continued work on Gjøa field resulted in Neptune submitting an ‘application for exemption’ from a plan for development and operation for the P1 segment in February last year.

According to Neptune Energy, the project cost is valued at approximately Nkr4bn. The field is expected to come online in January 2021.

NPD North Sea Development and Operations assistant director Arvid Østhus said: “Further development of the P1 segment in Gjøa results in additional resources and increased values for Gjøa, and contributes to good utilisation of the production capacity and infrastructure in the area.”

Neptune Energy operates and owns a 30% stake in the Gjøa field. Its other partners include Petoro (30%), Wintershall Dea Norge (28%) and OKEA (12%).

In July, Neptune Energy installed subsea oil and gas production flowlines and gas lift flowlines for its Duva & Gjøa P1 projects.