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.