"We are pleased that we have a majority for the three new fields," says Elisabeth Aarrestad, head of the FU secretariat.
The operators for Sigyn in the North Sea, Kristin on the Halten Bank and Oseberg Delta in the North Sea are ExxonMobil, Statoil and Norsk Hydro respectively. Together, the fields could supply around 36 billion cubic metres of gas in the period 2002 to 2016. Sigyn and Oseberg Delta begin in 2002 and Kristin in 2005.
The majority is also in favour of the Statoil operated Åsgard in the Norwegian Sea being allowed to supply additional reserves of 1.3 billion cubic metres over two years.
The Statoil operated fields Kvitebjørn in the North Sea and Mikkel in the Norwegian Sea were previously given the green light to supply gas. The FU now proposes that Mikkel is allowed to deliver to the Czech company Transgas and to the Hydro operated Grane field in the North Sea. On Grane, the gas will be injected to increase oil production. Kvitebjørn will supply gas in accordance with Troll gas sales agreements. Together, the fields will supply around 64 billion cubic metres in the period 2003 to 2014.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will most likely decide gas allocations this summer.