Eirin gas field : Equinor submits $374m PDO to Norwegian Ministry
Equinor has submitted a plan for the development and operation (PDO) of the Eirin gas field to Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. The project, estimated at over NOK 4 billion ($374 million), targets recoverable reserves of 27.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, predominantly gas. The Eirin gas field will be developed as a subsea facility linked to the Gina Krog platform in the North Sea.
Gina Krog Platform: A Central Hub for Eirin Gas Field
“Utilising Gina Krog’s infrastructure will enable Eirin to bring new gas to Europe fast, with good profitability and low CO2 emissions from production. The development will extend Gina Krog’s productive life from 2029 to 2036, and will be vital for the Sleipner area,” said Camilla Salthe, Equinor’s senior vice president for field life extension (FLX).
Equinor’s $374m plan for Eirin gas field development aims to extend Gina Krog’s productive life. Photo courtesy of Øyvind Torjusen / Equinor.
Accelerated Project Maturity Amid Energy Crisis
After the energy crisis in 2021, there was enhanced coordination with Norwegian authorities to boost gas supplies to Europe. Increasing gas exports from Gina Krog contributed significantly. This development highlighted the need for urgent projects to extend field life, with Eirin playing a key role. Production is anticipated to start as soon as 2025.
New Opportunities for Field Expansion and Low Emissions
“Extending Gina Krog’s productive life also gives us the opportunity to mature additional new reserves in the area. We’re still seeing possibilities for new discoveries, which is why Eirin’s new subsea facility will enable tie-in of new fields,” noted Ketil Rongved, Equinor’s vice president for FLX Projects. The facility is expected to have low emissions, emitting only three kilograms of CO2 per barrel of oil equivalents.
License Partners and Technical Specifications
The license partners include Equinor with a 78.2% stake and KUFPEC Norway holding 21.8%. The Eirin gas field is located 250 km west of Stavanger and was discovered in 1978. It will be developed as a subsea facility capable of tying in future discoveries in the area, with an optional expansion for up to four new wells.
Infrastructure and Processing Plans
The gas from Eirin will initially be received at the Gina Krog platform before undergoing further processing. Condensate from Eirin will be exported to Sleipner A through a planned oil pipeline, while rich gas will be transported for further processing at the Sleipner A facility. Sales gas will be exported via the Gassled network to the market, and unstabilized condensate will be sent to the terminal at Kårstø.