The largest pipieline in Norway is being laid

Acco

Saipem's castorone vessel (image courtesy of Saipem)

Saipem’s castorone vessel (image courtesy of Saipem)

rding to PennEnergy, the operations to install Norway’s largest oil pipeline to the Johan Sverdrup field started outside Mongstad, north of Bergen, in late April onboard the vessel Saipem Castorone.
The 36” pipeline which will extend for more than 280 km, and it is being pulled through a pre-drilled hole at the bottom of the Fensfjord into the oil terminal. Expected production at peal will be 660,000 barrels of oil per day that will flow into Mongstad.
The costs for phase 1 of the Johan Sverdrup development have been reduced by more than NOK 35 billion since the plan for development and operation was approved by Norwegian authorities. Of this, NOK 1.2 billion in savings come from rerouting the pipeline through the Fensfjord.
Statoil commissioned a study in 2015 which showed that a subsea pipeline route was possible as long as infill support for existing pipelines was in place. After thorough preparations, the conditions have been put in place for the pipelaying operations now underway.