Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Gives Green Light to Oil, Gas Pipelines

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) announced on Friday that it has granted start-up consents for the Edvard Grieg oil pipeline and the Utsira High gas pipeline. It also said that the infrastructure will be part of the development of the Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen fields on the Utsira High in the North Sea. 

"Start-up of the Edvard Grieg field is planned towards the end of 2015, whereas the planned start-up of Ivar Aasen is scheduled for next year. Ivar Aasen will use both pipeline systems," NPD wrote on its website. 

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

"The licensees for the two transport systems are the same as for Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen," the NPD wrote. "Statoil has been the operator of both transport systems since Plan for Installation and Operation (PIO) was approved in 2014. Gassco will take over as operator of the Utsira High gas pipeline when it comes on stream."