Page 13 - EurOil Week 04 2021

EurOil POLICY EurOil

OGUK warns of impact of Scottish

ban on export support

UK UK oil lobby Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) has energy transition, she continued. “In order to
requested an “urgent meeting” with Scottish ensure our shared net-zero objectives become a
The sector is already ministers to rethink the Scottish Parliament’s reality, we will need to deliver a fair and managed
reeling from the impact plan to withdraw support for oilfield technology transition at pace; one which deals with the real-
of the pandemic and and services exports. ities of a competitive market while at the same
low prices. Holyrood published its Vision for Trade strat- time offering exciting new prospects for the
egy on January 26, in which it said it would end future of our industry.”
“overseas trade support and promotion activities Scotland has set a target of becoming net zero
solely focused on fossil fuel goods and services.” in terms of emissions by 2045, five years earlier
It will take the step before world leaders convene than the goal for the rest of the UK. It aims to
for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change deliver on this ambition by developing hydro-
Conference in Glasgow in November. gen, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and car-
In a statement, though, OGUK CEO Deir- bon offsetting technologies.
dre Michie said the association wanted to The Scottish government noted that excep-
meet with ministers to “highlight the effect tions would be made for companies that demon-
this policy may have on members, particu- strate that their work is essential for a “fair and
larly our small to medium-sized members, just energy transition,” such as decommis-
who are still reeling from the impact of the sioning, it said. This could also refer to CCS, a
[coronavirus] COVID-19 pandemic and technology based heavily on the employment
the downturn with its volatile commodities of offshore structures that can be used for stor-
prices.” age. The UK, with its many depleted North Sea
The policy move should not “undermine” reservoirs, is well-positioned to become a major
companies that hope to play a key role in the exporter of CCS. ™
PROJECTS & COMPANIES

Wintershall Dea postpones

Dvalin start-up

NORWAY GERMAN producer Wintershall Dea has had mercury removal solutions,” the company said.
to postpone the launch of the Dvalin gas project “Until an appropriate remediation solution is
The field’s gas contains in the central Norwegian Sea after recording too implemented, the gas flow from the field will be
too much mercury. high levels of mercury in its gas flow. curtailed.”
Wintershall got the all-clear from regulators Wintershall Dea operates Dvalin with a 55%
to start producing from Dvalin in October, via a interest, while Norwegian state company Petoro
tie-back to Equinor’s floating Heidrun platform has 35% and Italy’s Edison a further 10%.
some 15 km to the north-west. In a statement on The Dvalin development consists of four
January 21, though, the company said that pro- wells targeting gas in Middle Jurassic sandstone
duction tests in December had revealed higher reservoirs at a depth of 4,500 metres below the
levels of mercury than were recorded during seabed. From the Heidrun platform, the gas is
exploratory work a decade ago. Mercury, which piped to shore via the Polarled system for pro-
naturally occurs in oil and gas deposits, can cessing, and then exported to Europe via the
corrode equipment and is harmful to humans Gassled pipelines.
and the environment when emitted into the Dvalin’s recoverable gas reserves are esti-
atmosphere. mated by Norwegian authorities at 18bn cubic
“Wintershall Dea together with its project metres. The issue with mercury has no impact
partners have commenced studies to identify on Dvalin’s reserve assessment, Wintershall Dea
a technical solution to enable full production, noted.
including the application of established industry The project’s cost is NOK11bn ($1.2bn). ™

Week 04 28•January•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13