Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Sept. 25 -- StatoilHydro will repair the Kvitebjorn rich gas pipeline in the Norwegian North Sea sooner than originally planned. It will perform the work in first-quarter 2009 instead of next summer.
Kvitebjorn has been transporting gas and condensate on a temporary basis since January, pending permanent repairs.
The pipeline, which extends from the Kvitebjorn platform to Kollsnes processing plant outside Bergen, was closed Aug. 20 after StatoilHydro found a minor gas leak during a routine inspection as it prepared to start up following a scheduled shutdown. The leakage is in the spot damaged by a ship's anchor last year. Meanwhile, Kvitebjorn will continue its drilling program and scheduled maintenance.
Visund field uses the Kvitebjorn pipeline to export gas that is now being reinjected into the reservoir. Oil production at Visund is being maintained but at a lower level than usual.
Production capacity of 22.5 million cu m/day of gas and 10,000 cu m/day of condensate on the Kvitebjorn pipeline will be shut in, and start-up will be scheduled for June 1 if the repair strategy changes.
The company could not say how long it will take to make repairs because of the uncertainty of North Sea weather.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].