NPD okays startup of Edvard Grieg, Utsira High pipelines

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has given startup consents for the Edvard Grieg crude oil pipeline and Utsira High natural gas pipeline that will respectively serve Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen fields on the Utsira High in the North Sea (OGJ Online, July 5, 2013).

Statoil ASA has been operator of both systems since the plan for installation and operation (PIO) was approved in 2014. Norwegian state-owned Gassco AS will take over as operator of the Utsira High gas line when it comes on stream.

The oil transport system includes a 43-km, 28-in. pipeline between the Edvard Grieg platform and a Y-connection point, which has been installed on the Grane oil pipeline about 4 km from Grane field.

The gas transport system includes a 94-km, 16-in. pipeline from the Edvard Grieg platform to an underwater connection point, or T-connection, on the Beryl pipeline, which is connected to the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) pipeline in the UK sector.

Production from Edvard Grieg is expected to begin toward yearend, while production from Ivar Aasen is scheduled to begin next year. Ivar Aasen will use both pipeline systems.