The Statpipe pipeline is a natural gas system, which links northern
North Sea gas fields with the Norway's gas export system. It transports gas from
Statfjord, Gullfaks, Heimdal, Veslefrikk, Snorre, Brage, Tordis and Statfjord
gas fields.
The Statpipe was developed by Statoil. The rich gas and dry gas
pipeline Statfjord became operational in 1985. In 1998, the Statpipe was
connected directly with the Norpipe. In 2003, the Statpipe was merged into
Gassled partnership and Gassco became the operator of the pipeline. The total
length of the Statpipe system is 890 kilometres. It consists of both rich and
dry gas pipelines. The 308-kilometre long rich gas pipeline runs from Statfjord
field to the Kårstø gas processing plant. The internal diameter of this pipe is
30 inches and capacity is 9.7 billion cubic metre of natural gas per year. The
first leg of the dry gas pipeline runs from Kårstø to the Draupner S riser
platform in the North Sea. The length of this line is 228 kilometres. The
internal diameter of the pipe is 28 inches and capacity is 7.6 bcm of natural
gas per year.
Statoil has awarded Lexar studies on replacement of HPU
(Hydraulic Power Unit), accumulator banks and control panels to for ESD-valves
on Statpipe 28 inches (dry gas) and 30 inches (natural gas) pipelines. The
existing HPU and accumulator bank on Kårstø have been in operation since the
system was installed back in 1985, and only minor modifications have been
performed since then. The first part of the study includes tie-in scope for a
new HPU, accumulator banks and control panels for ESD-valves. The second part
concludes the hook-up of the new system, and phasing out the existing.
The Kårstø-plant will continue its operation in several years to
come, and Lexar believes that the replacement of this equipment will lower the
frequency of shutdowns, and thus reduce production loss to a minimum.
