Equinor: Askeladd Vest’s launch to help maintain Hammerfest LNG production

In 2021, Equinor and its partners took a final investment decision on the Askeladd Vest project in the southern Barents Sea, a part of the multi-phased Snøhvit development.

The 4.3 mtpa LNG plant on Melkøya island already receives natural gas via a 160-kilometer pipeline from the Snøhvit field.

Equinor said the distance from Askeladd Vest to the production facility on Melkøya is 195 kilometres

Askeladd Vest consists of two wells in a new well template tied back to the Askeladd field, which came on stream in 2022.

“Askeladd Vest is an important step in the development of the Snøhvit field and will help maintain full production at Hammerfest LNG until onshore compression starts as part of the Snøhvit Future project in 2028,” said Grete Haaland, Equinor’s senior vice president for exploration and production North.

Hammerfest LNG is the only plant in Northern Europe producing and exporting LNG to European customers.

The plant produces 6.5 billion standard cubic metres of gas each year.

According to Equinor, this is the equivalent of about five percent of Norway’s total gas exports, and about two percent of the EU’s gas needs.

Recoverable volumes from Askeladd Vest total about 15 billion standard cubic metres of gas, and the investments amount to just over 3 billion Norwegian krone ($302.4 million).

Equinor is the operator of both the Snøhvit field, Hammerfest LNG, and Askeladd Vest with a 36.8 percent stake.

Other partners are Petoro (30 percent), TotalEnergies EP Norge (18.4 percent), Vår Energi (12 percent), and Harbour Energy Norge (2.81 percent).