Page 11 - EurOil Week 08 2021

EurOil POLICY EurOil

Germany, Russia eye joint hydrogen work

GERMANY GERMANY and Russia are in talks on co-op- hydrogen is also expected to be very clean, as
erating in green hydrogen, German Economy CO2 emissions from its production can be cap-
Russia has both green Minister Peter Altmaier has said, signalling the tured and stored.
and blue hydrogen pair are seeking deepen their energy ties further. Russia is Germany’s biggest gas supplier,
potential. Russia could work with Germany in pro- positioning it as a potential provider of blue
ducing and transporting green hydrogen that hydrogen supplies in the future as well. How-
Germany wants to develop using large-scale ever, Russia also has considerable untapped
wind and solar-powered electrolysers, in order renewable energy potential that could be
to provide carbon-free fuel for industry, energy exploited to develop green hydrogen. Moscow
and transport, the minister said in a webcast on drafted its own five-year hydrogen plan last
February 16. year, under which it plans to gradually replace
Russian Industry Minister Denis Manturov natural gas in Russia’s export pipelines with the
added that Russia was ready to prioritise invest- fuel.
ments in this field. “Russia can offer giant land potential as a
“I am convinced that this intention will be basis to build up solar and wind power, and huge
of interest to German and Russian companies water resources for hydropower,” Stephan Weil,
active in that sector,” he said. the prime minister of Germany’s Lower Saxony
Germany is aiming to become carbon neu- state, commented.
tral by 2050, and sees hydrogen as an important Russia is near to completing its second gas
solution for decarbonising certain industries. In pipeline to Germany, Nord Stream 2. This pipe
a strategy published last summer, though, Berlin and its sister project Nord Stream 1 are capable
said it would only provide funding support for of carrying up to 70% hydrogen and 30% natural
developing green hydrogen and not blue hydro- gas, whereas older Russian export pipelines can
gen, which is derived from natural gas. Blue only handle 20% hydrogen. ™

PROJECTS & COMPANIES

Equinor prepares to decommission

Norwegian field

NORWAY THE Veslefrikk oilfield in the Norwegian Sea pipelines cleaned and disconnected. Over the
will close in spring 2022 after more than 30 years years 74 wells have been drilled at the field.
Output at the field of production, its state-owned operator Equinor Archer started plugging wells from Veslefrikk
peaked in 1995. reported on February 22. B last month, with Baker and Ardyne supplying
Veslefrikk was brought on stream in 1989, most other drilling and well services. Som 24
with the use of Norway’s first floating produc- wells will be plugged in total.
tion platform, and its facilities have yielded over The fixed Veslefrikk A wellhead platform
400mn barrels of oil equivalent (boe) since then. should be removed in 2025-26. Equinor expects
Investments to date total around NOK20bn to award contracts for removing and disman-
($2.4b), and the field has undergone several life tling Veslefrikk A before mid-2021, and also
extensions. It was originally expected to cease for dismantling and recycling Veslefrikk B, and
operations in 2009. for work on the seafloor associated with export
Output peaked in 1995 at over 81,300 bar- pipeline cleaning and disconnection.
rels of oil equivalent per day and 410mn cubic Further contracts will follow for the planning,
metres of gas, but by last year had declined to management and implementation of the towing
only 5,150 boepd and 120 mcm. of Veslefrikk B to shore.
Equinor and its partners Petoro, Repsol “Veslefrikk was a technologically path-break-
and Wintershall Dea have undertaken an envi- ing development which has paved the way for
ronmental impact assessment for Veslefrikk’s new, lighter offshore structures after the era of
decommissioning, and plans were filed with concrete giants in the North Sea,” Equinor’s sen-
authorities last autumn. ior vice president for west operations, Geir Sort-
Before the Veslefrikk B semi-submersible veit, commented. “In recent years a formidable
production platform can be towed to shore for job has been done to increase the efficiency at
dismantling in autumn 2022, its topsides must Veslefrikk, extending the field’s productive life
be shut down and cleaned, and oil and gas export and maximising value creation.” ™

Week 08 25•February•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11