The plan for development and operation (PDO) of Statoil's Huldra field has been approved by Norway's Storting (parliament).
This gas and condensate discovery is due to come on stream in 2001 at an estimated cost of NOK 5.7 billion in money of the day, with commercial gas deliveries starting on 1 October in the same year.
The development was postponed for a year last spring, so project manager Morten Ruth is pleased that the plans have finally been given a green light.
"In cooperation with our licence partners, we're now concentrating all our attention on implementing the development," he adds.
Huldra will be produced through an unstaffed wellhead platform. Operation is due to be coordinated with Statoil's nearby Veslefrikk field, which will receive, process and export the condensate. The gas will go to Norsk Hydro's Heimdal platform for processing and export.
The licence intends to award the contract for building the platform's wellhead module and topside by mid-February.
Aker Verdal in mid-Norway has already been given the job of fabricating the jacket, Saipem will handle heavy lifts and installation, and the Maersk Gallant jack-up is to drill production wells.