Getting gas to Britain

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For the past couple of years, Norwegian and UK energy ministries have been deep in discussion on how to resolve their differences. Major debate on how the transport system should evolve to carry the extra volumes of Norwegian gas has also taken place. One important subject addressed during these discussions was open-access for the carriage of third party gas, to satisfy both commercial and national interests. An EC gas directive also emerged in 2003. And now we can say that co-operation has paid off. In early October of last year, both energy ministries finally signed a framework agreement covering the key principles for regulating cross-border projects, including pipelines. The clarification of these issues has since opened doors for a gas import project known as `Britpipe', an export pipeline from the Ormen Lange field off mid-Norway. The export pipeline will run 1200km from the Ormen Lange terminal at Nyhamna, in mid-Norway via the Sleipner riser platform, to Easington, which is already home to several North Sea gas terminals. More than 20 billion cubic metres of gas per year will be driven through the line by three 48MW motor-driven compressors. Flow will be boosted at Sleipner, which is a major transport hub in the Norwegian sector, with its own pipeline riser platform. But, before we see the gas flowing through Britpipe, the Ormen Lange field has several issues of its own to resolve first.