GDF SUEZ in Norway: Gjoa Field Officially Opened

The Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Riis-Johansen, officially opened the Gjøa oil and gas field in the Norwegian North Sea yesterday in presence of Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ.

Gjøa has been the largest recent industrial project in Norway. It has been developed by Statoil in close cooperation with GDF SUEZ which now is the production operator.

Gérard Mestrallet commented in the ceremony: “This event marks an important milestone for GDF SUEZ E&P Norge which is now and for the first time one of the 8 production operators in Norway, out of approximately 50 oil and gas companies working in Norway. Gjøa will enhance the security of supply of Europe and act as a hub in the Norwegian North Sea for future gas and oil developments. It shows GDF SUEZ’s will to invest in Norway for the long term.”

Gjøa has been part of the GDF SUEZ portfolio since 2003 with reserves estimated at 40 billion cubic meters of gas and 82 million barrels of oil.

The Gjøa field has been developed with a semi-submersible production platform and five subsea installations, with very high HSE standards. For the first time in the offshore oil and gas industry, the floating platform is fully powered by electricity from the mainland, reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the environment by 210,000 tons every year (the equivalent of annual emissions of 100,000 cars).

The daily production capacity of the Gjøa platform is 17 million cubic meters of gas and 87,000 barrels of oil. While the gas is transported directly to St. Fergus in Scotland through the Flags pipeline, the oil will be transported to the Mongstad refinery in Norway through the Troll II pipeline.

Gjøa will produce oil and gas for at least the next 15 years, but the Gjøa installations are designed for an operating life of 30 years. The Gjøa platform opens a new area in the Norwegian North Sea for production. From the start, the infrastructure acts as a hub for future developments, since the Vega and Vega South fields are produced through it.

The partners in Gjøa field are: GDF SUEZ (30%), Petoro (30%), Statoil (20%), Shell (12%) and RWE-DEA (8%).

About GDF SUEZ

GDF SUEZ develops its businesses around a model based on responsible growth to take up today’s major energy and environmental challenges: meeting energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximizing the use of resources. The Group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas-supply sources, flexible and low-emission power generation as well as unique expertise in four key sectors: liquefied natural gas, energy efficiency services, independent power production and environmental services. GDF SUEZ employs 200,650 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €79.9 billion in 2009. The Group is listed on the Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Stoxx 50, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, ASPI Eurozone and ECPI Ethical Index EMU.

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Source:GDF Suez, January 26, 2011; Image:statoil