Equinor assessing compression, electrification for Barents Sea Snøhvit Future project

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Equinor has awarded Aibel a FEED contract for modifications to the Hammerfest LNG plant in northern Norway, related to the Snøhvit Future project in the Barents Sea.

Aibel’s scope under the NOK140-million ($11.85-million) contract covers two sub-projects. The first involves construction of an onshore compression station at the Hammerfest LNG plant: this will provide pressure support as pressure in the Snøhvit field wells falls, thereby maintaining plateau production at the plant.

The compression station should help increase the field’s recovery factor, and Equinor and partners plan to select their preferred concept for the compression scope during the fall.

Aibel’s second study concerns electrification of the Hammerfest LNG plant to minimize Snøhvit’s carbon footprint.

Through replacing current gas turbines with power from shore, it may be possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions close to zero. A concept select decision on the electrification scope should follow late in 2020.

“The Snøhvit field contains enough gas to maintain production beyond 2050, and Hammerfest LNG will secure jobs for many years to come,” said Trond Bokn, Equinor’s acting senior vice president for project development.

Currently the partners are targeting two final investment decisions  for the sub-projects in the second half of 2021, and could exercise an option for EPCI awards that are included in the contract.

Snøhvit Unit partners are: Equinor (operator), Petoro, Total, Neptune Energy, and Wintershall Dea.

09/03/2020