Danish parliament approves US$3.36-billion Tyra overhaul offshore Denmark

The Danish Underground Consortium (DUC) has approved a DKK21-billion (US$3.36-bilion) investment in the redevelopment of the Tyra gas field in the Danish North Sea. This follows approval from Denmark’s parliament to implement legislation to secure the investment.

Tyra is the country’s largest gas field, processing 90% of the country’s gas production. Numerous other fields in the Danish sector are connected to its offshore infrastructure.

Redevelopment has become necessary due to subsidence of the chalk reservoir which has caused the platforms to sink by around five metres (16.4 feet) over the last 30 years. That in turn has reduced the gap between the sea and the platform decks.

According to Maersk, this will be the largest oil and gas project investment ever in the Danish North Sea, allowing operations at Tyra to continue for at least 25 years.

The investment comprises DKK17 billion (US$2.72 billion) for modifications to existing facilities and construction of new facilities, and DKK4 billion (US$640 million) for removal and decommissioning of current facilities. The programme should be completed in 2022, with production re-starting in July that year.

Maersk claims the new infrastructure will also allow other operators to pursue new gas projects in the northern part of the North Sea. Tyra South-east, the most recent development project in the area, delivered first gas in 2015 and is currently producing above expectations.

The redeveloped Tyra should produce around 60,000 boe/d at peak, and allow over 200 MMboe to be extracted over time. Roughly two-thirds of the production will be gas and one-third oil.

Maersk operates Tyra on behalf of the DUC, a partnership between A P Moller – Maersk, Shell, Nordsøfonden and Chevron.

Tyra East and Tyra West is also the hub for numerous smaller facilities in the Tyra field, including the nearby unmanned structure Tyra South-east, which was extended in 2015.