Gas production on the Åsgard B platform in the Norwegian Sea has been shut down to permit the first turnaround since the platform came on stream on 1 October 2000.
Platform manager Anton Osenbroch reports that the 14-day turnaround will account for 11,000 working hours. During this time 120 people will be on board, compared to 60 under normal operations.
The turnaround programme includes commissioning and work outstanding following the development project. Equipment such as gas separators and liquid separators will also be modified.
Work is also going on to link up the Mikkel field to the platform. Mikkel is planned to come on stream in 2003.
On 2 June Åsgard B will return to normal production, with an output of about 24 million cubic metres of natural gas and 3,000 cubic metres of condensate per day.