Maria From discovery to production
The Maria field is one of the most advanced tiebacks in the world, helping to extend the lifetime of surrounding fields. Its second phase is now under consctruction.
Maria is the first field Wintershall Dea brought all the way from discovery to production. With Maria Phase 2, the company is now further developing the asset for even longer life. Surrounded by gas and oil infrastructure in the Haltenbanken region of the Norwegian Sea, Maria is one of the most advanced subsea tieback fields in the world. It was discovered in 2010, around 200 kilometres off the coast of Norway, and brought into production in 2017. In 2023, the latest development of the field, Maria Phase 2, was approved by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, and is now under construction. Maria is supported by and takes services from four nearby fields.
Utilising existing infrastructure
Maria is a subsea field, producing hydrocarbons via two underwater templates at 300 metres water depth that link to four existing fields. Today Wintershall Dea and its partners are installing another template and drilling four new wells, to further develop the field. As with the original design, the Maria well stream goes to the Kristin platform. Water injection comes from Heidrun, while lift gas is provided from Åsgard B via the Tyrihans subsea field. Processed oil is sent to the Åsgard field for storage and export. Gas is exported via the Åsgard Transport System to Kårstø.
Preserving marine wildlife
After extensive underwater surveys, Wintershall Dea laid 114 km of pipelines and umbilicals on the ocean seabed, weaving away from precious corals, in order to tie the field to the host facilities. Thousands of tonnes of rock were laid in preparation for the careful routing of the pipes.