NORWAY APPROVES TROLL PIPELINE PLAN

Norway's Ministry of Industry & Energy has approved a revised plan to transport West Troll oil by pipeline to Mongstad terminal. The original plan involved a crossing of the 540 m deep Fens fjord with a pipeline with free spans almost 130 m long. Norwegian Petroleum Directorate refused to approve the original design. West Troll partners were divided over choice of route. Field operator Norsk Hydro AS was alone in wanting a pipeline to Sture.

Dec. 20, 1993

2 min read

Norway's Ministry of Industry & Energy has approved a revised plan to transport West Troll oil by pipeline to Mongstad terminal.

The original plan involved a crossing of the 540 m deep Fens fjord with a pipeline with free spans almost 130 m long.

Norwegian Petroleum Directorate refused to approve the original design. West Troll partners were divided over choice of route. Field operator Norsk Hydro AS was alone in wanting a pipeline to Sture.

Den norsk stats oljeselskap AS (Statoil) assumed pipeline operatorship and submitted a more conservative design in September. This involved spans of less than 40 m (OGJ, Sept. 27, p. 30).

Now NPD is satisfied with the technical aspects of the plan but still doubts the pipeline can be built on time and within budget. First oil is due from West Troll on Jan. 1, 1996. Design revisions have increased the capital cost by $3 million to $130 million.

Troll oil pipeline will be 85 km long and 16 in. Capacity will be 157,000 b/d. Pipeline interest holders were granted a 30 year operating license.

West Troll field and export pipeline interests are Statoil 74.577%, Norske Shell AS 8.288%, Norsk Hydro 7.688%, Saga Petroleum AS 4.08%, Elf Petroleum Norge AS 2.353%, Norske Conoco AS 1.661%, and Total Norge AS 1.353%.