Norwegian government approves higher gas flow at three field centers

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Equinor and its partners are working with the authorities in Norway to meet demand for gas in Europe.

Adjusted permits to increased production will allow high gas output from the Troll, Oseberg and Heidrun fields in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea to be maintained through the summer months.

Oseberg’s gas exports will rise by around 1 bcm over the period up to September 30, while Heidrun’s gas exports can increase by 0.4 bcm for the calendar year 2022.

In addition, Equinor has decided to postpone planned turnarounds at four platforms on the Oseberg field from May to September this year in order to accelerate production, following an evaluation of the plants’ technical integrity.

If maintenance requirements still arise, these will be dealt with during short turnarounds. Safety is the number one priority. There will also be a corresponding postponement of the onshore Sture terminal turnaround.

Furthermore, the adjustment of the permits allows for strengthening of production from fields exporting via the Kollsnes processing plant. This means production from the Troll field can rise by up to 1 bcm in the event of loss of production from other fields in the area.

By deferring the planned turnarounds on four platforms on Oseberg to September, this should accelerate the production of just below 500 MMcm from September to May.

Under the more flexible permit for Oseberg, its gas exports up to September 30 can rise to around 1 bcm, a 15–20% increase for the current gas year, lifting this year’s production to 7 bcm.

At Heidrun, gas production can rise by up to 30% to 0.4 bcm in the current gas year.

And from mid-May, the repaired Hammerfest LNG plant in northern Norway should re-start operations, providing more than 6 bcm annually from fields in the Barents Sea.

3/16/2022