Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 24, Equinor ASA and its partners have started production from the Askeladd West field in the Barents Sea, providing additional feed gas to Hammerfest LNG. The development is a continuation of the Snohvit field expansion, which has supplied Hammerfest LNG since 2007.

'Askeladd Vest is an important step in the development of the Snohvit field and will help maintain full production at Hammerfest LNG until onshore compression starts as part of the Snohvit Future project in 2028'.

"Askeladd Vest is an important step in the development of the Snohvit field and will help maintain full production at Hammerfest LNG until onshore compression starts as part of the Snohvit Future project in 2028," said Grete B. Haaland, Equinor senior vice president for exploration and production in Northern Norway, in a statement Tuesday.

The Snohvit Future project, approved in 2023, will introduce onshore compression to secure gas flow and electrification to reduce emissions. Equinor expects the compression facilities to be completed in 2028, with the field transitioning to electrified operation from 2030.

Hammerfest LNG, located on the island of Melkoya, began operations in 2022. The plant liquefies natural gas for export and has a production capacity of 6.5 billion standard cubic meters annually. This equals about five percent of Norway’s total gas exports and around two percent of the European Union’s gas demand, according to Equinor. It is the only liquefaction and export facility of its kind in Northern Europe.

Gas from Snohvit reaches Hammerfest LNG through a 143-kilometer pipeline, while feed gas from Askeladd has been flowing since December 2022. The newly developed Askeladd West consists of two wells and a new well template linked to Askeladd, with a 195-kilometer pipeline connection to the LNG plant. Equinor stated Tuesday: "The [Askeladd West] field contributes to continued high and long-term production of LNG from the processing plant at Melkoya."

Askeladd West is estimated to hold recoverable volumes of about 15 billion standard cubic meters of gas. The project represents an investment of NOK 3 billion ($302.91 million). "Askeladd Vest is a highly profitable project," said Trond Bokn, Equinor senior vice president for project development. "The project has received substantial deliveries from the Norwegian supplier industry and has created ripple effects on both the local, regional and national scale."

Equinor Energy AS, majority owned by the Norwegian government, operates the project with a 36.79 percent stake. Petoro AS, also state-owned, holds 30 percent. France’s TotalEnergies SE, through TotalEnergies EP Norge AS, owns 18.4 percent. Var Energi ASA has 12 percent, while Harbour Energy PLC, through Harbour Energy Norge AS, holds 2.81 percent.

The launch of Askeladd West ensures Hammerfest LNG can maintain stable production and continue supplying liquefied natural gas to overseas markets, while advancing the long-term development of the Snohvit field.