An overview from a Norwegian state owned company that operates 7,800 kilometres (4,800 mi) of natural gas pipes Gassco shows that 94.2 billion standard cubic metres (scm) of natural gas were transported from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in 2011. These volumes went to receiving terminals in Germany, Belgium, France and the UK.
The 2011 figure represented a reduction of roughly three billion scm from the year before, but was no less than 42 billion scm higher than the 54 billion scm piped in 2001.
Gassco chief executive Brian Bjordal says : “Norwegian gas makes a substantial contribution in any event to energy supplies in major European nations . Taking a historical view, these exports have expanded strongly and now meet a larger share of European demand.”
He explains that several factors underlay the reduction in Norwegian gas deliveries during 2011.
“Norway’s gas exports depend on many elements which interact in complex ways. Production, transport capacity, access to resources, markets and the availability of gas from other suppliers are crucial factors.”
Gassco’s goal is to operate the integrated transport system for Norwegian gas with the highest possible regularity. This averaged 99.17 per cent during 2011.
Deliveries of natural gas liquids (NGL) and condensate from the processing plants at Kårstø and Kollsnes (via Vestprosess) rose from 7 621 278 tonnes in 2010 to 7 993 309 tonnes last year.
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, January 11, 2012; Image: Gassco