Quantification of risks associated with seabed instability at Ormen Lange

Abstract

The Ormen Lange gas field is located within the slide scar of the enormous Storegga Slide that took place about 8200 years ago. There are strong indications that the Storegga slide generated a tsunami wave hitting the coastlines of Norway, Scotland and the Faeroes. The headwalls of the Storegga slide are steep and their safety factor against sliding could be low. An extensive study was therefore performed to evaluate the probability for new submarine slides and their potential consequences. Results of the study showed that the 1st party and 3rd part risks associated with potential slide activity in the Ormen Lange area are negligible.