First up is the Ormen Lange field, which is the second largest gas field on the Norwegian continental shelf. Today, two-thirds of the gas from this field has been taken up and sent on to the UK after passing through the Nyhamna gas plant at Aukra. With gas from both the Ormen Lange and Aasta Hanssten fields, the gas pipe from Nyhamna has contributed at least 20 percent of the UK’s gas consumption, but the last remaining gas from Ormen Lange has been a challenge to get up. Now, however, Norwegian engineers may have found the solution. Instead of a platform, huge compressors at a depth of 900 meters are to be controlled 120 kilometers from land to bring up the residual gas. – The entire oil and gas industry is holding its breath and looking to Norway now, says project manager for Ormen Lange, Richard Crichton. Two solid compressor stations are now being built at Onesubsea’s facility on Horsøy outside Bergen. Compressor stations will replace platforms and be placed at a depth of 900 metres. Photo: Roar Strøm From platform to underwater technology On Horsøy outside Bergen, Shell and Onesubsea are now building two substantial stations with compressors, which will provide more pressure to bring up the remaining gas. Ten percent of the residual gas they can recover has a value of approximately NOK 80 billion. Crichton has great faith that they will succeed in what, according to him, was impossible ten years ago. – The oil and gas industry is waiting for us to deliver this. It can give them new opportunities for similar projects, where they can extract more gas at large values that would otherwise be left behind. A plan of the Ormen Lange field, which lies 120 kilometers out in the Norwegian Sea. Shell will now extract approximately ten percent more gas to a value of approximately NOK 80 billion with the help of newly developed Norwegian technology. Photo: Shell The world’s longest underwater skating rink The project has a cost of around NOK 12 billion. Aker Solutions is in the process of building the facility that will control the compressors from land. As early as next year, parts of the equipment will be shipped north towards the Romsdal coast and will be connected to the land plant at Aukra. 80 percent of the technology and equipment has been developed and produced in Norway. – What we have achieved here is quite unique in a world context. We know that the industry is looking for new opportunities to get the most out of existing gas fields without having to build new platforms or installations, says CEO Clare McIntyre at Shell. She believes the Ormen Lange field will now supply gas for decades to come. The government follows Norway is today Europe’s most powerful gas nation and Europe has a great need for gas. Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland has already been to Horsøy and looked at the work being done there. Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news State Secretary Amund Vik in the Ministry of Oil and Energy tells news that they support new technologies, which increase value creation, secure jobs and contribute to lower emissions. – That the Norwegian supplier industry is at the forefront of developing new technology is encouraging. It shows what kind of expertise we have. We know there will be a need for gas for a long time. Norway must help cover that need with gas produced with low emissions. If the companies succeed in replacing the platform with underwater equipment, there are great opportunities for other old gas fields on the shelf. From left, Gunnar Gamlem, Onesubsea, Andrea Sætre, Clare McIntyre and Andrew Stroud from Shell. Photo: Roar Strøm Extensive testing of the equipment is now underway at Horsøy. The Scotsman Andrew Stroud at Shell is responsible for the underwater technology, and says that the compressors are scheduled to be in operation in 2025. – The special thing here is that it is so far from land. When we test, we reduce the risk and in the end we feel confident that it will work. We cannot risk a start-up where we have to spend hundreds of thousands on correcting mistakes at great depths.
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Replaces platform with compressors to get more gas from Ormen Lange to Aukra – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
