Idled Statoil platform back in service

STAVANGER, Norway, July 21 (UPI) -- Norwegian energy company Statoil said Monday oil and gas operations have resumed at the Njord A platform in the Norwegian Sea after nearly a year.

The platform operating at the Njord field in the Norwegian Sea was emptied and inspected in July 2013. Statoil said it determined the platform needed major reinforcements before production can resume.

The company said operations at the platform resumed Saturday following the completion of reinforcements to its platform structure.

"Njord A will produce oil and gas until the summer of 2016, after which it will be taken to shore for additional upgrades which will allow us to use the drilling system on board, and prepare it for many more good years of service on the Norwegian shelf," operations director Arve Rennemo said in a statement Monday.

The company said the development in the northwest flank of the Njord license area would extend the life of the field by two years and increase recoverable reserves to 18.6 million barrels of oil.

"The Njord A platform has been with us the entire time, and we want to make sure that the structure can withstand the loads it will be exposed to," Rennemo said.