Transport evaluation completed

Ready in March 1979, the Statfjord unit transport evaluation report was based on the studies conducted by Statoil and Mobil on pipeline transport and offshore loading respectively.

This assessment showed that offshore loading of oil yielded the lowest investment and operating costs. The difference from a pipeline was estimated at NOK 6 billion.

The Statfjord group’s offshore loading study began in the autumn of 1977, with Mobil responsible for the work. Three options were evaluated – loading stabilised crude with rich gas piped to land, loading crude under pressure, and separate loading of stabilised crude and rich gas. The aim was to study these as an alternative to a pipeline to land at Sotra island outside Bergen.

Statoil’s oil pipeline study was completed in October 1978. This proposed a pipeline running from Statfjord C across the deepwater Norwegian Trench, via Hjartøy in Øygarden local authority, to a terminal at Vindenes in northern Sotra. It would be 207 kilometres long, including 24 kilometres over land.

A technical development and testing project was proposed by Statoil to identify methods for laying an oil pipeline in waters up to 350 metres deep. But the other licensees wanted offshore loading to be used for oil export throughout the producing life of the field.

To learn more, see: Offshore loading versus pipeline transport  and Gas pipeline to continental Europe .

Source
Stafsnes, Tor. Ilandføring av petroleum fra Statfjord: analyse av en iverksettingsprosess. Bergen 1984, pp 87-88.