CHAPTER 15
The Europipe Landfall Project
Henning Grann
15.1
Introduction
This chapter provides an overview of the natural gas pipeline network in the North Sea
and the development of the European natural gas market. In addition, a more detailed
description is given of the Europipe landfall project including the project planning and
construction. Over the next few years a major offshore natural gas pipeline transportation system will be completed on the Norwegian continental shelf. From the gas fields,
thousands of kilometers of large-diameter pipelines bring the natural gas to the European continent. The Europipe transportation system is a part of this integrated pipeline network designed to bring large amounts of Norwegian gas to several countries in
Europe. The Europipe Transport System is owned by a joint venture including the companies Statoil, Norsk Hydro, Saga Petroleum, Esso, Shell, Total, Elf, and Conoco. Statoil
is the operator of this joint venture.
15.2
Background
In the early 1960s the consumption of natural gas in OECD Europe was only 2% of the
total energy demand. However, the discovery of the large Groningen gas field in The
Netherlands was the first step in a considerable change in this picture. In 1964 Algeria
started export of liquified natural gas to the UK and Spain and in 1968 the former
Soviet Union began their export of gas to Western Europe.
In the early 1970S a consortium of continental gas buyers purchased significant volumes of gas from the Norwegian offshore Ekofisk field with the objective of securing a
long-term supply of gas to Western Europe. As a result the Norpipe gas pipeline to
Emden in Germany was built and started up in 1977. Following the signing of the Troll
gas sales agreement in 1986, it was decided to develop the Norwegian Troll and Sleipner
fields. Consequently, the Zeepipe pipeline to Zeebrugge in Belgium was built and commissioned in 1993.
By this time the natural gas share of the energy consumption in the European OECD
countries had increased to 17%, the total gas demand was about 320 billion m 3 year- 1
and a continuing increase was forecasted. As of now, the total Norwegian contracted
gas volumes have reached a level of 62 billion m 3 year- 1 • The increasing emphasis on
natural gas is the result of European governments' strategy to improve the security and
flexibility of their energy supplies. Moreover, substitution of coal and oil by natural gas
is resulting in substantial environmental improvements and has become an important
instrument for European governments in their attempts to realize their objectives of
The Europipe Landfall Project
Henning Grann
15.1
Introduction
This chapter provides an overview of the natural gas pipeline network in the North Sea
and the development of the European natural gas market. In addition, a more detailed
description is given of the Europipe landfall project including the project planning and
construction. Over the next few years a major offshore natural gas pipeline transportation system will be completed on the Norwegian continental shelf. From the gas fields,
thousands of kilometers of large-diameter pipelines bring the natural gas to the European continent. The Europipe transportation system is a part of this integrated pipeline network designed to bring large amounts of Norwegian gas to several countries in
Europe. The Europipe Transport System is owned by a joint venture including the companies Statoil, Norsk Hydro, Saga Petroleum, Esso, Shell, Total, Elf, and Conoco. Statoil
is the operator of this joint venture.
15.2
Background
In the early 1960s the consumption of natural gas in OECD Europe was only 2% of the
total energy demand. However, the discovery of the large Groningen gas field in The
Netherlands was the first step in a considerable change in this picture. In 1964 Algeria
started export of liquified natural gas to the UK and Spain and in 1968 the former
Soviet Union began their export of gas to Western Europe.
In the early 1970S a consortium of continental gas buyers purchased significant volumes of gas from the Norwegian offshore Ekofisk field with the objective of securing a
long-term supply of gas to Western Europe. As a result the Norpipe gas pipeline to
Emden in Germany was built and started up in 1977. Following the signing of the Troll
gas sales agreement in 1986, it was decided to develop the Norwegian Troll and Sleipner
fields. Consequently, the Zeepipe pipeline to Zeebrugge in Belgium was built and commissioned in 1993.
By this time the natural gas share of the energy consumption in the European OECD
countries had increased to 17%, the total gas demand was about 320 billion m 3 year- 1
and a continuing increase was forecasted. As of now, the total Norwegian contracted
gas volumes have reached a level of 62 billion m 3 year- 1 • The increasing emphasis on
natural gas is the result of European governments' strategy to improve the security and
flexibility of their energy supplies. Moreover, substitution of coal and oil by natural gas
is resulting in substantial environmental improvements and has become an important
instrument for European governments in their attempts to realize their objectives of