Norwegian Gas Output Down 20%

Norwegian sales gas production in September 2016 fell to 6.4bn m³, which was 1.6bn m³ (or 20%) less than in August, according to preliminary data released by the regulator on October 18.

September was also the lowest gas production month so far this year, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) also noted, adding that several fields were closed for maintenance last month. There will be more on this in issue 5 of NGW's fortnightly magazine, out on October 19.

NPD also announced two "minor" gas-condensate discoveries by Statoil in the Njord north flank on October 18; the wells were the first to have been drilled on PL107C in the Norwegian Sea. 

Well 6407/7-9 S encountered a 102-metre oil column and 157-metre gas-condensate column, but preliminary estimates put the gas find at only 0.2mn to 0.3mn m³ of recoverable oil equivalent. A side-track well, 6407/7-9 A, encountered two gas columns, one of 195 metres the other of 140 metres, but the gas find was estimated at 0.1-0.5mn m³ of recoverable oil equivalent.

Licence holders in PL107/PL107C/PL132 (Njord field area) are Statoil 20%, Engie 40%, DEA 30%, Faroe Petroleum 7.5% and VNG Norge 2.5%.

Mark Smedley