Norway greenlights gasfield development

Norway’s energy ministry has approved three development projects to increase gas output on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the ministry announced last week.

The first is for the third phase of Ormen Lange gasfield project, which will boost the play’s recovery rate from 75% to 85% and increase gas production to 40 bcm over the length of the entire project.

The play is Norway’s second largest offshore gasfield and is operated by Shell.

Commissioning of the third phase is expected in 2025.

The government also approved plans to develop the Tommeliten A discovery, which is partly located on the British side of the North Sea.

The gas and condensate project is expected to contain up to 180 million boe.

Tommeliten A is operated by ConocoPhillips with a 28.14% stake, along with partners Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo with a 42.2% stake, TotalEnergies with a 0.15% stake and Vår Energi with a 0.07% stake.

Production is expected to begin in 2024.

The ministry also approved development of the Frosk discovery located 28 kilometres south of the Alvheim field in the Central North Sea.

The USD 230-million development plans are targeting estimated reserves of 10 million boe.

Production is expected to begin in 2023.

The Frosk field is operated by Aker BP, along with partners Vår Energi and Lundin Energy.