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Tuesday, 02 December, 2008, 23:50 GMT | more >>

Oslo scales back northern shoots


Staff & news wires

Norway has scaled back a seismic survey of the Troms II and Nordland VII areas off the Lofoten islands in the Arctic after equipment problems delayed the project's start.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate's (NPD) 2008 seismic programme was scheduled to run from the middle of this month until the end of July and cover 700 square kilometres.

But the work has not yet started because of a shipyard delay of a vessel owned by Bergen Oilfield Services (BOS) and an engine room fire on a Petroleum Geo-Services vessel.

"We are sticking to the plan, we won't prolong it," NPD spokeswoman Eldbjorg Vaage told Reuters, adding that it was not yet clear when the Lofoten area seismic studies will begin.

She said various factors were behind the decision not to extend the time horizon of the seismic scans, including a more active fishing season from the start of August.

The NPD later issued a press release saying the the 3D shoot across Troms II will get under way at the beginning of next month and finish on 24 July.

The centre-left government has postponed a final decision on whether to open Troms II and Nordland VII to exploration until after the next parliamentary election due late next year, pressured by fishing lobbies and environment concerns.

The NPD planned extensive 2D and some 3D work in the areas.

The area off the picturesque Lofoten islands and just north of it, Nordland VII and Troms II, has been increasingly interesting for oil and gas companies with the development of new deep-water and sea-bed exploration technology, soaring energy prices and limited availability of acreage worldwide.


Friday, 27 June, 2008, 11:41 GMT  | last updated: Friday, 27 June, 2008, 13:35 GMT

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