Norway: Snohvit Gas Flows Again

Statoil has resumed production at the LNG plant at Melkøya outside Hammerfest following a temporary shutdown due to rupture of a firewater line last Wednesday.

The facility can revert to full production without any production limitations.

“We have a good overview of the extent of the damages and we have already started the improvement work,” says Øivind Nilsen, head of operations at Hammerfest LNG.

To replace the damaged part of the firewater system preparations have been made for an interim period to fetch water from hydrants in the vicinity should a fire break out in the affected area. The surveillance of the area will also be intensified.

The plant receives gas from the Snøhvit offshore field which was shut immediately after the rupture was spotted. Based on the measures implemented production can now run as normal. Statoil’s share of the Snøhvit production capacity amounts to 48,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Snøhvit is the first offshore development in the Barents Sea. Without surface installations, this project involves bringing natural gas to land for liquefaction and export from the first plant of its kind in Europe and the world’s northernmost liquefied natural gas facility.

The company has formed a separate task force to work on measures implemented following the firewater line rupture.

“This team will also ensure that lessons are learned from the incident to prevent any similar incidents from occurring in the future.” said Statoil on its website.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, January 20, 2012; Image: Statoil