Statoil installs Tampen link for fall gas deliveries

May 11, 2007
Statoil AS has installed the 23 km Tampen gas pipeline link between Statfjord field and the UK section of the North Sea preparatory to the delivery of gas from its Statfjord field to the UK beginning Oct. 1.

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, May 11 -- Statoil AS has installed the 23 km Tampen gas pipeline link between Statfjord field and the UK section of the North Sea preparatory to the delivery of gas from its Statfjord field to the UK beginning Oct. 1. Statoil will hand over its operatorship of the Tampen link to Gassco AS when production begins.

The 32-in. Tampen link delivers Statfjord field gas to the Flags pipeline that extends from Brent field in the UK North Sea to St. Fergus, Scotland. Statoil installed the pipeline using Saipem's Castoro Sei laybarge.

"It forms part of the extensive work now being carried out on the Statfjord late-life project," said Statoil Project Director Bjarne Bakken. He said the pipeline will allow late phase gas to be exported to UK markets and will further increase field recovery. "At the same time, modification work will involve intense activity both for Statoil and suppliers."

The Statfjord partners will convert three Statfjord field platforms from handling oil with associated gas, to handling gas with associated oil. The work enables Statfjord to continue Statfjord production to 2020, with partners investing just over $2.7 billion (16 billion kroner).

Statfjord "late-life" additional resources are estimated at 32 billion cu m of gas, 25 million bbl of oil, and 60 million bbl of condensate. The expected recovery ratio is up to 70% for oil and 75% for gas.

Statoil is operator for Statfjord with a 44.34% interest. The other Statfjord licensees are ExxonMobil 21.37%, Norske ConocoPhillips 10.33%, Shell 8.55%, ConocoPhillips UK 4.84%, Centrica Resources 9.68%, and Enterprise Oil 0.89%.

Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].