Norpipe 36/22 A booster platform unmanned

When this transport facility was built, it was dimensioned to handle peak production from the seven Greater Ekofisk fields as well as providing spare capacity for possible new discoveries.

Utilising this capability to the full called for powerful pumps, both to provide enough initial pressure from Ekofisk and to give additional boosting along the pipeline.

Two booster platforms – 36/22 A and 37/4 A – were accordingly put in place at approximately equal distances along the route. The second of these, standing in the UK sector, was 36/22 A.

However, it transpired that the oil pipeline was over-dimensioned. Even when Greater Ekofisk was producing at peak in 1980, more than half the transport capacity remained unused.

One of the booster platforms was therefore redundant, with the other only required for brief periods. As a result, 36/22 A had its personnel removed.

This structure was owned by Norpipe A/S along with the three other booster platforms – 37/4 A on the oil pipeline and B11 and H7 on the gas pipeline to Emden in Germany.

Established in 1972, Norpipe was owned 50-50 by Statoil and the Phillips group to lay these two pipelines. The one to Teesside came on line in 1975, with the Emden system following in 1977.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Kvendseth, Stig S, Giant Discovery. A History of Ekofisk Through the First 20 Years, 1988: 92-94.