Equinor has been granted permission to partially electrify one of its North Sea gas fields.
The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has approved a revised plan for development and operation (PDO) of the Sleipner field centre.
It will be tied to the Utsira High area solution, cutting an estimated 150,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
In June, Equinor, as the operator of the Sleipner field, and its partners Vår Energi, LOTOS and KUFPEC submitted the plans to the government department.
The Norwegian energy giant will invest around NOK 850 million (£72m) in the project in an effort to slash its operational emissions.
It is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
The Sleipner field centre solution involves laying a power cable from the platform to the Gina Krog installation, which will be tied to shore using the Utsira High area solution.
Arne Sigve Nylund, executive vice president for technology, projects and drilling at Equinor, said: “Partial electrification of the Sleipner field centre will contribute to major cuts in emissions from our activities and provide significant assignments for the supplier industry in a demanding time.
“As the authorities have approved the PDO, we can keep developing the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) towards the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050.”
Kjetil Hove, executive vice president for development and production Norway at Equinor, said: “Sleipner is an important field on the NCS contributing enormous value to Norwegian society. The partners have focused on being in the forefront of technology development and innovation to carry out for example carbon capture, injection and storage at the field.
“The decision to partly electrify the field helps the partners in their effort of further developing the field,” says Kjetil Hove, executive vice president for Development and Production Norway in Equinor.”
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