Norwegian LNG plant to shut down for repairs

Oct. 13, 2011
Operations at Europe’s only LNG exporting plant, Statoil’s Hammerfest on Melkoya island, will cease Oct. 14 to address a contraction in a heat-exchanger tube. The company announcement said the plant would remain shutdown for 2-3 weeks.

Operations at Europe’s only LNG exporting plant, Statoil’s Hammerfest on Melkoya island, will cease Oct. 14 to address a contraction in a heat-exchanger tube. The company announcement said the plant would remain shutdown for 2-3 weeks.

Company personnel are working together with representatives for the suppliers and license partners to identify the cause of the contraction.

“A possible reason,” said Statoil, is the presence of “residual moisture” following a maintenance shutdown earlier this year. The company also plans to conduct some corrective maintenance during the shutdown.

The Snohvit offshore development, which feeds Hammerfest, is the first in the Barents Sea.