A production platform or ship with full processing of gas and condensate could be picked for Statoil's Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea.
The main development option being assessed is a semi-submersible, with gas piped to Kårstø north of Stavanger through the existing Åsgard Transport trunkline.
Stabilised condensate would be transferred to the Ã…sgard C storage ship for export by shuttle tanker.
A production ship, the other possibility now under consideration, allows condensate to be stored and discharged to tankers directly on the field.
"Full processing on Kristin offers better economics and flexibility than options we've considered earlier," says project manager Lars Røssland.
"It lays the basis for developing other discoveries in the vicinity by tying them back to an installation on this field."
He emphasises that exploiting existing production and gas transport infrastructure in the area remains an objective.
"A future possibility could be to tie Tyrihans and Mikkel to our Ã…sgard facilities. That would allow Kristin to serve as a centre for the western part of the Halten Bank area."
The deadline for seeking a government allocation of Kristin gas to a Norwegian sales contract is 15 November.
A decision on the development solution is due to be taken by the field's licensees this autumn, with the aim of submitting a plan for development and operation to the authorities in May 2001 and starting production in the autumn of 2005.