North Sea Martin Linge platform cleared for start-up

May 14, 2021
Equinor has permission from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority to start using the Martin Linge platform and associated offshore pipelines in the North Sea.

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway – Equinor has permission from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to start using the Martin Linge platform and associated offshore pipelines in the North Sea and onshore control room.

The Martin Linge field, discovered in 1978 and initially developed by Total, is in 115 m (377 ft) of water in licenses 040, 043 and 043 BS, close to the median line with the UK and 42 km (26 mi) west of the Oseberg complex.

Development is based around a fully integrated production platform with an FSO for oil storage and offloading.

The PSA has also authorized Spirit Energy Norway to extend the use of the facilities on the Vale gas-condensate field in the North Sea beyond their original lifespan, to June 11, 2023.

Spirit sought the extension to recover the remaining reserves.

Vale was developed as a satellite to the Heimdal Gas Center platform in the central Norwegian North Sea via a seabed template and a 16.5-km (10.3-mi) long pipeline.

Production from Vale stopped in 2018 due to processing issues at Heimdal facility but was restored in October 2019.

05/14/2021