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Norne shut-down

March 31, 2000, 10:00 CEST

Oil output from Statoil's Norne field in the Norwegian Sea will be suspended for a week on 4 April to allow modifications to the production ship.

The vessel is due to be upgraded so that it can start exporting gas to continental Europe on 1 October.

Production must primarily cease to permit welding and other hot work required to install the new plant and hook it up to the existing topside facilities, reports gas project manager Arne Jacobsen.

He explains that the gas dewatering unit was successfully lifted aboard on 28 March as four packages, with the heaviest weighing 70 tonnes.

The Regalia maintenance support vessel was positioned 10 metres from the ship to undertake these lifts, which required very good weather. Both units involved were kept on station with the aid of dynamic positioning.

Gas deliveries from Norne will ensure optimal oil production from the field, with the ship able to process and export 2.5 billion cubic metres per year.