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The Statfjord field, the largest North Sea oil field, has been on production since 1979. We think that production decline is imminent; however, oil production was close to a record for the field in 1991. This paper discusses the reservoir drainage strategy; the situation after 13 years of production; and short-and long-range perspectives for further field development, which includes a high well activity level to maintain the well production potential. Most of the wells drilled and scheduled are either horizontal wells or extended-reach wells, extending toward the flanks of the field. A large effort has been put into mapping remaining reserves by developing detailed reservoir simulation models. The production and well activities have been optimized on the basis of the results from the new models. Exploitation of business opportunities, such as processing of third-party crude from tie-in and subsea satellite fields and external gas storage, gives a new perspective for an oil field on production decline. In addition to these long-range plans, studies of such recovery methods as water-alternating-gas (WAG), surfactant, and polymer injection are continuing.

COPyrlSIM 1999, OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE TM papw was pmpamd for wmontaticm mlrho 0ff8ftoro T9chnciogy Confam$ct hold in Houston. T*1-. 9-9 May. 1999 W-*r w-sakctd for pmccatatlon by tfw OTC~Comrr4ti-folk.uAng rwiaw of htfomdon comtdned In an Awtrad qhmltmd by* author(s). COnt*IIm of ttw p9mr -Pm~I hm* not k.n 19vimmd by the OfMom Tochnok.gy qnd qrc qubjoct 10 cormctlon by m-u*Or10 l%-matmtsl, u pmmtod, doos not rwccssarlly mtkt q y pwitlon C4 rho CJWKWC Tochnofogy COrtf9r9tICa w IKs 0Mc91's. PCIT?IISSiOIIto cow it r98bfcbd to q sbsmct cf not mom mm S00 tmds. Illuotmttons may not b9 copbd. ma *=1 should contain COIWCUWS dmtvlcdg-t of wham qnd by wlmm rhc papw was pr9sal-k9d. AbstractGeological, reservoir and well-technology related challenges have been overcome in the planning and pre-drilling phases of Heidrun and, although additional challenges remain in the future, the field has come rapidly to plateau production, mainly through high-rate gravel packed oil producers from the highest quality and most homogeneous reservoir, the Fangst, An extensive data acquisition program in the pre-drilling phase has laid the groundwork for improved reservoir description of the complex Tilje and Are Formations, which are heterogeneous reservoirs containing barriers to fluid flow and having complex fluid systems. These formations have the potential of contributing large reserves from this giant oil field. Plans are in place for a pilot water flood in these reservoirs and strategies are being evaluated to realize the value of the undeveloped gas reserves and/or use the gas in secondary recovery of oil from Tllje and Are.