The Ormen Lange Plant at Nyhamna consists of well stream processing, gas export compression and condensate offloading to tankers. The gas from the field is conditioned to dew point and heating value according to European specifications, then routed into the export pipeline to Easington, UK, via the leipner field.
Condensate recovered from the well stream is stabilized and stored in a custom-built rock cavern before being shipped from the terminal. Gas and liquid products are metered to fiscal standards before being exported. The process facilities at Nyhamna consist of two gas conditioning and dehydration trains, three export compressor trains and one condensate stabilization train. The plant processing capacity is 70 million standard cubic metres per day (MSm3/d) of sales gas at an initial arrival pressure of 90 bar. Maximum condensate production is estimated to be 7000 Sm3/d.
Before construction could start, a massive civil works task was performed, blasting more than 2 million m3 of rock in order to prepare the plant site and build storage caverns. The construction and installation of steel structures, buildings, pipes, cables and equipment continued throughout 2006, while in 2007 the main task will be to test out the plant before starting production.
By May 2007, the plant will be just weeks away from hot testing, after a three-year construction period with up to 3500 workers during the peak period at Nyhamna. This paper describes how Hydro as operator has undertaken this massive construction task - building one of Norway's largest processing plants - and what this has required in terms of project management. It also includes a short description of how collaboration with the local community has been achieved.
Fig. 1 Island of Gossen, site for the Ormen Lange onshore plant. (available in paper)
Nyhamna, on the west coast of Norway in the county of MØre and Romsdal, was selected as the site for the Ormen Lange onshore processing plant. The Ormen Lange installations have been planned, designed and built according to Norwegian legislation and regulations. Hydro's requirements for HSE work have formed the basis for the HSE goals and requirements that have been set.
HSE acceptance criteria were established with regard to the risk posed to the safety of individuals, society, the environment, health, and working environment, as well as the risk of losing material assets. Subsequent HSE analyses document that the plant meets all Authority, Partner and Hydro requirements to Health, Safety and Environment.
The development of the plant has been based on proven and robust technology. The Ormen Lange project has a strong focus on energy efficiency and the reduction of emissions and discharges in order to minimize environmental impacts. Principles of BAT (Best Available Technology) and ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practical) have been applied.
The calculated gas production availability of the plant, based on historical industry experience databases and operations experience will exceed 97 % once stable production has been established
