Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor has commenced production at its Martin Linge oil and gas field in the North Sea.
With estimated recoverable resources of about 260m barrels of oil equivalent (boe), the field is expected to reach plateau production of around 115,000 barrels per day in 2022. Discovered in 1978, the field is located 42km west of Oseberg, in 115 metres of water.
Equinor owns a stake of 70% in the field, while Petoro is its only partner owning the remaining stake of 30%. The Martin Linge field development includes a jacket-based integrated wellhead, production and accommodation platform and a permanently anchored oil storage vessel.
The platform was connected to shore power in December 2018. The production wells and processing plant at the field are operated from the control room in Stavanger, becoming the first Norwegian platform to be brought online from shore.
Originally planned to begin production in 2016, the Martin Linge project has faced many challenges, including a rise in costs from the initial NOK31.5bn (US$3.6bn) to NOK63bn (US$7.2bn).
The gas produced at Martin Linge is transported through a new pipeline connecting the field to the existing pipeline to St Fergus, Scotland.
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