Technical problems will reduce output from the massive Troll gas field in the Norwegian North Sea until next summer.
Compressor issues will see output cut until mid-2014, with start-up on the compressor already having been delayed several times.
“We have a reduced flexibility on Troll for the time being and it will take a long time to get back to full flexibility,” said Statoil development chief Oeystein Michelsen.
“It will last until next summer.”