Norwegian Snøhvit Gas Field Begins Production

Norway's first gas development in the Barents Sea has begun production and is expected to pump out 5.7 billion cubic metres of gas per year (550 million cubic feet per day).

The Snøhvit field, which lies in depths of 310–340m, will pump gas though a 143km multiphase pipeline to a 4.2 million tons per year liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing plant at Melkøya, in northern Norway.

Operated by Norwegian oil and gas giant Statoil, the Snøhvit project is the first gas development in the area and has involved the construction of the first LNG plant in arctic conditions.

Total, who owns a 18.4% interest in the project, says the LNG will be shipped to European and US markets.

The CO2 extracted from the natural gas will be re-injected into a Snøhvit field reservoir.