Statoil is still working to tow the barge-mounted processing plant from Spain's Dragados yard in Cadiz to the Melkøya site near Hammerfest in northern Norway in the summer of 2005. But the risk that regular gas deliveries could be delayed by six to 12 months in relation to the original plan has increased substantially. In the event of any delays, Statoil will ensure that the buyers of the gas receive their deliveries form other sources.
The profitability of the Snøhvit project continues to meet Statoil's requirements but its robustness has been weakened.
A detailed assessment of costs and progress will be made this autumn and the board will then handle the issue thoroughly.
Statoil's objective is to complete the project with the lowest possible increase in costs and shortest possible delays. The total investment framework for Snøhvit, excluding the liquefied natural gas carriers, could lie between NOK 49.3 billion and NOK 51.3 billion. This compares with the most recent cost estimate of NOK 45.3 billion, and the figure of NOK 39.5 billion cited in the original plan for development and operation (PDO).
"Snøhvit is one of the most extensive and technically-complex projects we've ever launched," says Erling Øverland, acting chief executive of Statoil. "We have underestimated its complexity and we acknowledge that the project was not sufficiently matured when the decision to develop was taken in 2001."
The main reasons for the cost rises are:
Statoil is now intensifying its work to gain further effects from the measures already put into action. The most important measures are:
In addition, Statoil is preparing the extra work which will have to be transferred to Melkøya as a result of delays.
Experience from this demanding project will be actively utilised to strengthen the quality of future Statoil ventures. For this reason, the group intends to carry out a thorough review of all the factors involved in the planning, organisation and execution of its major developments.
"Snøhvit is the first offshore project in the Barents Sea, and the first liquefied natural gas scheme in Europe," Mr Øverland notes. "Development of this field opens a completely new area of the Norwegian continental shelf, as well as new market opportunities for gas from Norway.
"Our confidence that this is a forward-looking project has not been weakened, even though it is deeply regrettable that we have had to revise the investment estimate and schedule.
"Viewed overall, the development involves the application of new technology which will be crucial for a future commitment to oil and gas in the far north and internationally."
The Snøhvit licensees are: Statoil with 33.53 per cent, Petoro (30), Total (18.4), Gaz de France (12), Amerada Hess (3.26) and RWE Dea (2.81).