The 56.8 billion cubic metres of Norwegian gas due for delivery in the contract year which began on 1 October is up by 9.8 billion cubic metres from 1999-2000.
"This increase reflects the build-up in supplies under our long-term deals with European gas buyers," says Jan Heiberg, senior vice president for supply and transport in European Gas.
The Ã…sgard, Heidrun, Norne, Draugen and Oseberg fields have all started gas deliveries to continental Europe in the new contract year.
And Norway's gas transport infrastructure has been strengthened with the new Åsgard Transport and Oseberg Gas Transport trunklines as well as new systems for gas and liquids treatment at Statoil's Kårstø complex north of Stavanger.
"The complexity of our big production and transport machine is increasing as the number of supply fields and transport systems grows," Mr Heiberg comments.
Sales contracts for Norwegian gas in 2000-2001 embrace customers in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, the UK, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, Austria, Norway and Poland.
Gas is transported to continental Europe through the Europipe I, Europipe II, Zeepipe, Franpipe and Statpipe/Norpipe trunkline systems