Equinor unveils plans to invest in Norwegian sea gas field

Equinor has submitted a plan for development and operation (PDO) for a deep-water gas project in the Norwegian sea to the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE). The project has a planned investment of over $1.4 billion.

While disclosing that the PDO for the Irpa gas discovery, formally known as Asterix, Equinor explained that this will enable the delivery of more gas to Europe and extend the life of Aasta Hansteen field by ensuring activity and stable gas deliveries 2039.

The gas will be phased into existing infrastructure over Aasta Hansteen and transported to the Nyhamna gas processing plant via Polarled. From there, gas will be transported via the Langeled pipeline system to customers in the UK and continental Europe and scheduled to come onstream on the fourth quarter of 2026.

"This is a good day-the development of Irpa will contribute to predictable and long-term deliveries of gas to customers in the EU and the UK," says Geir Tungesvik, Equinor's executive vice president for projects, drilling and procurement.

Expected recoverable gas resources are estimated at approximately 20 billion standard cubic metres, equivalent to 124 million b.o.e. or the consumption of nearly 2.4 million British households over a period of seven years.

"The development shows that near-field exploration and utilisation of existing infrastructure provides good resource utilisation on the Norwegian continental shelf. Irpa will maintain existing jobs at Aasta Hansteen, at the supply base in Sandnessjoen, at the helicopter base in Bronnoysund and at the operations centre in Harstad," said Grete Birgitte Haaland, senior vice president for exploration and production North.

"During the project period, there will also be local and regional deliveries, although the Irpa project is largely dependent on international specialist suppliers who can operate in water depths of 1350 metres," said Hogne Pedersen, project director for Irpa.

"It has been challenging to develop Irpa. Deep water and low temperatures on the seabed have necessitated the qualification of innovative new technology for pipelines, but good support in the partnership and increased demand for gas have made an investment decision possible," Pedersen added.

Based on the PDO, this discovery will be developed with three wells and an 80-kilometre pipeline to the Aasta Hansteen platform. Equinor underscored that “as the only planned deep-water .