OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2013. Statoil and its partners have made the investment decision for a joint oil export solution for the Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen fields.

The oil will be transported via a 43-kilometre oil pipeline from Edvard Grieg to the Grane oil pipeline, and then on to Sture.

The transport solution is a precondition for developing the Edvard Grieg (operated by Lundin) and Ivar Aasen (operated by Det norske oljeselskap) fields. Edvard Grieg is scheduled to start producing in 2015 and Ivar Aasen in 2016. The new pipeline will be called the Edvard Grieg oil pipeline.

Statoil is a partner in both fields and operator for the joint venture for oil transport.

The investment decision was made by Statoil and the partners, based on a recommended solution from Gassco. A plan for installation and operation (PIO) has been submitted to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

“We are an important player in the Sleipner and Utsira area, and are therefore concerned with robust solutions that provide the possibility of expanded activities in the area in the future,” says Tor Martin Anfinnsen, senior vice president for trade with crude oil, wet gas and refined products in Statoil.

Statoil’s extensive project experience from similar projects and market position within procurements and pipeline installation constitute the framework for implementation of the project.

“Good cooperation and close coordination with other projects in Statoil, as well as close follow-up of the primary suppliers are important success criteria, where, among other things, we have achieved synergies as regards the pipeline installation job,” says Torger Rod, senior vice president for pipelines and onshore projects in Statoil.

The Utsira High is located between the two established fields Sleipner and Grane, in an established area with well-developed infrastructure. This forms the basis for new, robust and flexible export solutions on the Utsira High.