Enabling high Norwegian Gas Production

— The fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf produce nearly at maximum capacity. The companies are continuously assessing opportunities for future profitable gas production from their portfolio of assets. The Government may contribute by facilitating efforts by the companies to maintain the current high level of production. With the approvals regarding Oseberg, Troll and Heidrun we are doing just that, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Terje Aasland.

The approved applications for the Oseberg, Troll and Heidrun fields will not increase the daily total Norwegian gas production significantly, but will contribute towards maintaining today’s high export volumes of Norwegian gas.

Norway supplies 20-25 percent of the gas consumption in the EU and UK. Norwegian gas is delivered to Europe through an extensive network of subsea pipelines. The exception is the LNG plant at Hammerfest in Northern Norway. When production is resumed[1], this plant will add some additional gas into the global marketplace. Gas is sold in a global market, where Norwegian production accounts for two to three per cent. In the near future, increased import of LNG to Europe will be crucial.

The oil and gas companies operating in Norway are responsible for selling the gas they produce in the gas market on a commercial basis. This is not a government responsibility.

Further questions related to any implications of the approvals for specific fields should be directed to the field operator.

 

 

[1] The Hammerfest LNG plant is currently out of operation after a fire in 2020. The operator has recently announced that they expect to resume LNG-production and exports from the LNG plant mid-May 2022.