Gassco: Norwegian Gas Supplies to Europe Down in 2011

Norwegian supplies of pipeline gas to Europe ceased to grow in 2011. In a 10-year perspective, however, they have increased by almost 80 per cent.

An overview from pipeline operator Gassco shows that 94.2 billion standard cubic metres (scm) of natural gas were transported from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in 2011. These volumes went to receiving terminals in Germany, Belgium, France and the UK.

The 2011 figure represented a reduction of roughly three billion scm from the year before, but was no less than 42 billion scm higher than the 54 billion scm piped in 2001.

“Norwegian gas makes a substantial contribution in any event to energy supplies in major European nations,” says Gassco chief executive Brian Bjordal. “Taking a historical view, these exports have expanded strongly and now meet a larger share of European demand.”

He explains that several factors underlay the reduction in Norwegian gas deliveries during 2011.

“Norway’s gas exports depend on many elements which interact in complex ways. Production, transport capacity, access to resources, markets and the availability of gas from other suppliers are crucial factors.”

Gassco’s goal is to operate the integrated transport system for Norwegian gas with the highest possible regularity. This averaged 99.17 per cent during 2011.

Deliveries of natural gas liquids (NGL) and condensate from the processing plants at Kårstø and Kollsnes (via Vestprosess) rose from 7 621 278 tonnes in 2010 to 7 993 309 tonnes last year.

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LNG World News Staff, January 11, 2011