Norway’s Gassco AS has taken over operatorship of the 177-km, 22-in. Valemon rich gas pipeline following approval of a pressure test.
The pipeline extends to a tie-in on the existing Huldra pipeline, carrying rich gas to the Heimdal field center in the North Sea for further processing. Its available technical capacity is 13 million standard cu m/day.
While Gassco will operate the joint venture that owns the pipeline, Statoil ASA will serve as its technical service provider. The JV plans to complete dewatering of the pipeline in November.
Valemon is a Statoil-operated gas and condensate field 10 km west of Kvitebjorn in the northern part of the Norwegian North Sea. The field is currently under development, with production estimated to begin in the fourth quarter via three wells. Topsides were installed in July (OGJ Online, July 28, 2014).
