Gas Leak Probe Shutters Norway’s Aasta Hansteen Field
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) said April 10 that it has launched an investigation into a gas leak on Equinor’s Aasta Hansteen field.
The probe Norwegian Sea field follows an incident that occurred in connection with gas flaring on 8 April. It is unclear when the investigation will be concluded or when the field will restart work.
“The leak initiated a general alarm with mustering, production shutdown, pressure blowdown and deluge,” the PSA said in a statement. “Its volume and rate have yet to be determined.”
Production was launched at Aasta Hansteen in December. At 1,300 meters, it is the deepest field development on the Norwegian continental shelf. It is located 300km off the central Norwegian coast, “far from other fields and in an area with harsh weather conditions,” Equinor notes. Recoverable resources are estimated at 55.6bn m3 of gas.
Equinor holds 51% of the field and is the operator. Wintershall Norge (24%), OMV Norge (15%), and ConocoPhillips Skandinavia (10%) are partners.