Equinor granted approval for North Sea Martin Linge platform start-up

Equinor has been granted approval from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to begin use of the North Sea Martin Linge platform, associated offshore pipelines, and onshore control room.

Martin Linge oil field, in 115 metres of water 42 km west of Oseberg in licences 040, 043, and 043 BS, was discovered in 1978.

Field development comprises a jacket-based integrated wellhead, production and accommodation platform and a permanently anchored oil storage vessel. When the field comes on-stream, the gas will be transported through a new pipeline connecting the field to the existing pipeline going to St Fergus, Scotland. The oil will be processed on the storage vessel and transported from the field in shuttle tankers.

The platform receives power via a 162-km sea cable from the onshore substation at Kollsnes north of Bergen.

The main reservoir is structurally complex and contains gas and condensate at high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). There are three reservoirs in Middle Jurassic sandstones in the Brent Group at a depth of 3,700-4,400 metres.

Oil has also been found in the Frigg formation of Eocene age. The main reservoir lies at a depth of 1,750 metres and the reservoir quality is good.

Equinor is operator with 70% interest. Petoro holds the remaining 30%.

Source: Oil & Gas Journal