((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
(Added quote, detail, context to paragraphs 2-4, 6, 9-10)
Equinor EQNR.OL and its partners in the North Sea Troll gas field, Europe’s largest, will invest 12 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.13 billion) to further boost production, the energy company said on Friday Norwegian.
Norway is already Europe’s largest natural gas supplier after a sharp reduction in Russian deliveries since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
“Troll gas alone meets around 10% of Europe’s needs,” Kjetil Hove, Equinor’s director of exploration and production in Norway, said in a statement.
“This is a very profitable project that will ensure high gas production from the Troll field,” said Geir Tungesvik, head of projects, drilling and supply at Equinor.
The new infrastructure will accelerate production equivalent to around 55 billion standard cubic meters (bcm) of gas, and at its peak, the annual contribution from additional development will amount to around 7 billion cubic meters, Equinor said.
Norwegian pipeline gas exports to Europe in 2023 amounted to 109 billion cubic meters on a full-year basis.
Recent upgrades to the Kollsnes onshore processing plant have already increased Troll’s maximum production capacity to 129 million standard cubic meters (mcm) of gas per day, up from 121 mcm, and this capacity will increase further with new investments.
“Production from the new Troll wells will amount to approximately 20 million standard cubic meters of gas per day,” Equinor said.
The new investment, known as the second stage of the Troll Phase 3 project, includes eight new wells with a new gas line to the Troll A platform. The first wells are expected to be commissioned in late 2026, Equinor said .
Once processed in Kollsnes, Troll gas is transported via the Zeepipe pipelines and can be distributed to reception terminals in Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Denmark.
Operator Equinor holds a 30.58% stake in Troll, while Norwegian state-owned Petoro owns 56%, Shell SHEL.L 8.10%, TotalEnergies TTEF.PA 3.69% and ConocoPhillips COP.N 1.62%.
($1 = 10.6607 Norwegian crowns)
