Norwegian Parliament Gives Green Light to Johan Sverdrup Project

Norway’s parliament met halfway on Wednesday, giving the green light to Statoil’s Johan Sverdrup project, while deciding that the company will have to start electrification of three North Sea fields by 2022 and putting an end to weeks of political discussions. 

“We’re happy that the parliamentary majority has found common ground with the government parties and contributed to an agreement that will ensure that the Sverdrup development can proceed as planned,” Oil and Energy Minister Tord Lien commented on Thursday. 

According to Bloomberg, government and opposition converged on the inclusion of additional three fields ‘in their power plan for Sverdrup as part of broader efforts to cut greenhouhse-gas emissions.’ 

Also on Wednesday, Statoil announced it is stepping up efforts to increase recovery from Troll A platform in the North Sea, doubling the amount of compressors on the platform. 

‘These two compressors will boost recovery from the giant field by 83 billion standard cubic metres of gas - 522 million barrels of oil equivalent. That’s more than Aasta Hansteen and Valemon put together,’ wrote the company, adding that the new modules will increase production over the next 50 years.

Statoil welcomed the amelioration, saying that the project is ‘an important contributor to the European gas market.

According to the note, Troll A platform will ensure a daily export capacity of 120 million standard cubic metres of gas and annual production of 30 billion standard cubic metres.