Equinor has announced a peak production of 42.5 billion standard cubic meters (bscm) of natural gas in the Troll field in the North Sea in 2024, marking a 10% increase from 2022’s production of 38.3 bscm.
“This milestone is the result of decades of targeted work to recover the Troll oil and gas resources in an efficient and sustainable manner. It is rewarding to be able to deliver such significant volumes of gas when Europe needs it most,” said Kjetil Hove, Equinor’s executive vice president for Exploration & Production Norway.
Equinor noted that the record production in 2024 is attributed to high regularity, a year without turnarounds, and upgrades that have increased efficiency. Additionally, the replacement of risers on Troll B has also played a crucial role in maximizing production.
“The efforts to recover more Troll gas and increased export capacity clearly help ensure that our customers in Europe get the energy security and long-term perspective they need,” said Helge Haugane, Equinor’s senior vice president for gas and power trading.
In 2021, production was expanded to include the gas cap in the western part of the reservoir, facilitated by major subsea development. This expansion has been instrumental in increasing production, even 28 years after the start-up. The Troll B and C platforms also contribute significant quantities of gas that are transported via Troll A to Kollsnes.
The gas processing plant at Kollsnes has undergone upgrades in recent years that lead to today’s production record. As Equinor worked with the operator Gassco, capacity has increased from 144.5 million to 156 million standard cubic meters per day.
Besides, both the Troll B and C platforms were partially electrified during 2024, achieving an estimated reduction of 90,000 tons of CO2, approximately 15%.
