Ormen Lange

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Ormen Lange Nyhamna

Ormen Lange, the largest natural gas field under development in Norwegian continental shelf, lies 100 km northwest of Kristiansund where seabed depths vary between 800 and 1,100 metres. The reservoir is approximately 40 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide and lies about 3,000 metres below sea surface. Proven gas reserves reach 397 billion m³.

Extreme natural conditions at the site (subzero temperatures most of the year, stormy seas, strong underwater currents, uneven seabed) put great demands on the technology used in the project. The Storegga Slides that occurred in the area 7000 years ago have been investigated, with the conclusion that the chances of reoccurrence are negligble.

Total cost is estimated to reach 66 billion Norwegian kroner by the time of completion. This equivalates to about 10 billion USD

The Ormen Lange field will be developed without using conventional offshore platforms. Instead, wellheads on the ocean floor is connected directly by pipes to an onshore processing facility at Nyhamna and the gas will be exported via 1,200 km Langeled pipeline to Easington in England. Production should start in October 2007. The field should produce 70 million m³ of natural gas per day.

Several companies share ownership of Ormen Lange.