Polish Output from Norway Rises
Polish monopoly PGNiG expects to increase its total output of natural gas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf to almost 1bn m³ next year, it said November 13. The first phase of the Aker BP-operated Aerfugl field in which it is a shareholder is now online. PGNiG said that the gas and condensate field was the most profitable in Norway.
It said the new wells were commissioned on time despite the coronavirus epidemic. "Their launch will not only significantly increase the PGNiG Group's natural gas output in Norway, but will also have a very favourable effect on the financial performance of PGNiG's upstream Norway operations," it said.
PGNiG expects the total output from the three wells, the total planned for the first phase, to reach 0.24bn m³ in 2021. Together with the yield from the other two wells, PGNiG's share will be 0.47bn m³, bringing the company's equity Norwegian gas to 0.94bn m³.
The Polish company has been expanding its gas resources in Norway to underpin the Baltic Pipe project, due to begin pumping Norwegian gas to Poland in late 2022. It enjoyed two exploration successes this month, at a ConocoPhillips-operated licence in the Norwegian Sea, estimated to be up to 30mn m3 of recoverable oil equivalent in size, and at a licence where it is partnered with Aker BP, though that one was only minor.