Gassco takes charge of Norwegian Sea gas pipeline

Offshore staff

KØPERVIK, Norway – Gassco has assumed operatorship of the Polarled pipeline in the Norwegian Sea.

Development operator Statoil commissioned the line, installed by Allseas, to transport gas initially from theAasta Hansteen field to the Nyhamna process plant on Norway’s west coast.

Since May 1, Gassco, the Norwegian trunklines operator, has taken responsibility for the line on behalf of the Polarled joint venture partners.

The 482-km (299-mi) offshore pipeline is the first to cross the Arctic Circle. It has a diameter of 36-in. and a transport capacity of around 70 MMcm/d.

Construction began off Nyhamna in March 2015, with the final section laid to the Aasta Hansteen offshore location in September that year.

According to Statoil, the original investment budget for the project was around NOK11 billion ($1.27 billion), but the final figure was 40% lower at NOK6.5 billion ($751 million).

Supplies can tie into the existing Langeled trunkline that runs from Nyhamna to the UK via the North Sea Sleipner platform hub, which is also connected to the transport system exporting Norwegian gas to continental Europe.

Polarled has six tie-in points for new discoveries, with DEA Norge’s Dvalin set to be the second field accommodated after Aasta Hansteen next year.

Grete B Haaland, Statoil’s svp for asset management, said: “Polarled opens for gas export to Europe from an entirely new area, bolstering the position of the Norwegian continental shelf as a reliable long-term supplier. With the infrastructure in place, it will also be more attractive to explore and develop fields in the neighboring areas.”

Norske Shell expects to complete associated upgrades at Nyhamna later this year.

05/05/2017