Nordic countries debate energy policy after spikes in power prices
On Thursday, the hourly electricity prices in certain parts of Scandinavia reached record levels. They were tenfold higher in some cases than average, due to cold weather and lower wind power production. This prompted politicians to suggest a change in energy policy. In Denmark, the price per megawatt-hour (MWh) for an hour starting at 1600 GMT has risen to 936 Euros. South-western Norway and Southern Sweden have seen prices above 700 Euros/MWh.
Vestas Gets 34-MW Turbine Order from Norway
The sustainable energy solutions provider Vestas Wind Systems A/S has received a 34 MW order for the Haramsfjellet wind project on the island of Haramsøya in western Norway.The Danish manufacturer has developed a solution to fit the site’s wind conditions that includes eight V136-4.2 MW turbines and a long-term service contract to optimise energy production for the lifetime of the project in a high wind location."With a robust design for tough wind sites…
Maritime Decarbonization: The Path Starts in Norway
Breaking new ground: the all-electric, zero-emissions Future of The FjordsNorwegian cruise vessel offers amazing tourist experience while protecting fragile UNESCO World Heritage environmentFuture of the Fjords, the world’s first all-electric and completely emissions-free ship, launched in April this year by Norwegian tours operator The Fjords, is now operating as a cruise vessel on the spectacular Gudvangen to Flåm route along the Nærøyfjord, Sognefjord and Aurlandsfjord of western Norway.
Statoil Refinery Leak Ends, Unit down
A naphtha leakage at Statoil's Mongstad refinery in western Norway has now ended, but the plant's petrol-making unit remains shut and the company is investigating the causes of the accident, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday. There were no reports of injuries, she added. Reporting by Ole Petter Skonnord
Norway Approves Construction of 80 MW Wind Farm
Norway has approved an application to construct a new wind farm with the capacity to produce 80 megawatts (MW) of electricity on the coast of western Norway, the oil and energy ministry said on Tuesday. The application, which was initially rejected in December 2015 on environmental concerns, received approval after an appeal was lodged, the ministry said in a statement. Norway's total installed wind power production capacity in 2016 was 838 MW, data from the European Wind Energy Association showed.
The New Offshore Reality
Swedbank’s chief economist, Harald Andreassen, isn’t “too hopeful” about the long-term prospects for the oil price, but then again, “I’m less certain of this than I’ve ever been as an economist,” he told a floating production conference in Oslo. After two-and-half years of oil-price collapse followed by layoffs in the thousands; stacked oil rigs and order freezes for offshore shipping, price insecurity itself is a partial expression of confidence.
Kollsnes Gas Plant to be Partially Shut in May and Sept
Norway's largest gas-processing plant, Kollsnes, will be partially shut from May 6-20 and from Sept. 2-20 next year, gas system operator Gassco said on Friday, announcing its 2017 maintenance plans. Norway exports natural gas from its offshore fields via a dense network of subsea pipelines to Britain, Germany, France and Belgium after processing it at onshore plants. Norwegian gas meets about 25 percent of Europe's demand. The Kollsnes plant in western Norway processes gas from the country's biggest offshore field…
Repsol's Yme Platform Removed from Offshore Norway
The topside of Repsol's faulty Yme oil platform was removed from the field offshore Norway on Monday, Swiss-based heavy-lift vessel owner Allseas said, a key hurdle for the Spanish oil firm's planned sale of the production license. Using the giant Pioneering Spirit vessel, the removal in a single lift of the 13,500-tonnes topside marks a new step in decommissioning of offshore oil platforms, which previously had to be taken apart piece by piece, meaning longer operations.
ABB to Power Norwegian Hybrid Car Ferry
ABB will supply the power system for a hybrid car ferry serving a passenger route in Norway. The vessel will run as a hybrid but can be modified to run as a full electric ferry with shore charging system. According to ABB, the contract is another success in northern Europe, where regulation is causing passenger ship operators to look at green solutions. “This is another example of how ABB is at the forefront of energy storage solutions for the maritime industry,” said Sindre Sætre, ABB’s Director of Marine and Ports in Norway.
Norway's Statoil Drops Upgrade of Mongstad Refinery
Norway's Statoil is dropping a planned upgrade at its Mongstad oil refinery in western Norway, it said on Wednesday, in another sign of oil companies cutting costs to cope with lower oil prices and difficult markets. Statoil had been working on a project for two years on how to expand production capacity at Mongstad in order to be able to process oil from the offshore Johan Sverdrup field from 2019. "The entire industry is experiencing a more demanding time…
First Subsea Gas Compression Plant On Line
Statoil and its partners this week put the first subsea gas compression facility on line at Åsgard in the Norwegian Sea, Statoil announced. Subsea compression will add some 306 million barrels of oil equivalent to total output over the field’s life. This subsea technology milestone opens new opportunities in deeper waters, and in areas far from shore. Recovery from the Midgard reservoir on Åsgard will increase from 67 percent to 87 percent, and from 59 percent to 84 percent from the Mikkel reservoir.
Polarled Pipeline, First to cross the Arctic Circle
On Friday 21 August the Polarled gas pipeline crossed 66 degrees and 33 minutes north of the equator and became the first pipeline to cross the Arctic Circle. This pipeline will open an entirely new gas highway from the Norwegian Sea to Europe. The 482-kilometre long and 36-inch wide pipeline will run from Nyhamna in western Norway to the Aasta Hansteen field in the Norwegian Sea. The world’s largest pipelaying vessel, Solitaire from Allseas…
Statoil's Offshore Pipelay Surveillance Contract for DNV GL
DNV GL, the technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, has been awarded another offshore pipelay surveillance contract by Statoil to monitor quality assurance throughout the installation campaign. As new fields have become increasingly complex, the pipeline segments have also experienced cost challenges like other parts of the industry. “New technologies and continual development of best practise have the potential to contribute positively to the cost reduction efforts necessary to make the industry more robust.
Statoil: Polarled Pipe-Laying Kicks Off
On 26 March, the Solitaire pipe-laying vessel started on the first stage of the Polarled installation project. The 482-kilometre long pipeline will transport gas from the Aasta Hansteen field in the Norwegian Sea to Nyhamna in western Norway. Statoil is operator during the development of the Polarled project and therefore responsible for laying the pipeline between Aasta Hansteen and Nyhamna. As operator for the gas plant, Shell is responsible for preparing the Nyhamna processing plant for gas reception.
Offshore: Ulstein and the First U.S. Built X-Bow
Veteran Norwegian designer and builder Ulstein will, for the first time, build one of its signature X-Bow hull designs in the U.S., Maritime Reporter has learned. Edison Chouest Offshore’s LaShip shipyard in Louisiana is keen to build, and has found a Norwegian partner to share the risk. Judging by ever-evolving Ulstein business models and Jones Act strictures, Ulstein’s U.S. foray could lead to series production of the SX 165 offshore construction vessel.
Statoil: Subsea Wet Gas Compressor Coming to Gullfaks
The world’s first subsea wet gas compressor station is now ready for the final testing at Horsøy outside Bergen before being prepared for installation and hook-up to Gullfaks C in 2015. By adding 22 million extra barrels of oil equivalent from the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir the compressor will help extend the field’s productive life. Starting back in 2008 the efforts to develop and qualify the compressor in line with Statoil’s requirements…
Statoil: Gudrun Officially Opened
Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg officially opened the Gudrun platform in the North Sea today, 19 August. This is the first new Statoil-operated platform on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) since Kristin in 2005. Gudrun is the first in a long line of new field developments operated by Statoil, and therefore it represents a new era on the NCS. The next in line is Valemon, which is scheduled for start-up later this year. Gina Krog and Johan Sverdrup on the Utsira High are next in the North Sea.
DNV GL Oil & Gas to Expand in Norway
DNV GL is relocating its oil and gas head office in Norway from Høvik to Stavanger in order to be even closer to its customers, the company said. Local delivery capacity will be expanded in Stavanger and Bergen and operations will continue in Høvik, Sandefjord, Trondheim and Harstad. DNV GL’s operations in Norway are led by Regional Manager Marianne Hauso. “The oil and gas industry is facing rapid changes, increasing costs and growing public scrutiny on its safety and environmental performance.
