Project Profile
Value: US$1,200 million
Location: near Stavanger, Karsto, Western Norway
Production: 24.1 billion cubic metres of dry gas, 900,000 tonnes of ethane, 4.2 million tonnes of LPG and 2.2 million tonnes of condensate / naphtha
The Karsto complex, which lies 30km north of Stavanger in Norway, processes rich gas from central parts of the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), including the Asgard and Mikkel fields, and unstabilised condensate from the Sleipner area of the North Sea. The condensate is stabilised and fractionated in a dedicated plant at a rate of 4mtpa and shipped from Karsto by sea. The methane and some ethane is transported on through the Statpipe / Norpipe system to Emden and the 658km, 42in Europipe II trunkline to Dornum, both on Germany\'s north coast, while the NGLs are exported by ship. About 950,000t of ethane is produced annually and sold on long-term deals to Vienna-based plastics group Borealis, chemicals company Noretyl and Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro. In 2009, Karsto produced 24.1 billion cubic metres of dry gas, 900,000t of ethane, 4.2 million tonnes of LPG and 2.2 million tonnes of condensate / naphtha for export.
KEP2010 project
The latest phase of upgrading is a series of projects under the collective title of KEP2010. The main elements of KEP2010 include upgrading the instrument and utility systems, mechanical modifications and new installations such as an Emergency Generator Building. The processing plant plays a key role in the transport and treatment of gas and condensate (light oil) from important areas on the Norwegian continental shelf. NGLs are separated from the rich gas arriving at Kårstø before being fractionated into propane, normal butane, isobutane, naphtha and ethane. The propane is stored in two large artificial rock caverns with a combined capacity of 90,000 tonnes. Normal butane, isobutane, naphtha and ethane are held in conventional tanks.The Kårstø complex ranks as the world’s third largest export port for liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), which embrace propane and butanes. These products are sold to customers worldwide. 600-700 cargoes of LPG, ethane, naphtha and stabilised condensate are dispatched from the plant every year.
Operators:
Gassco: Operator
Gassled JointVenture (owner):
Petoro AS: 45.793%
Solveig Gas Norway AS: 24.756%
Njord Gas Infrastructure AS: 8.036%
Silex Gas Norway AS: 6.102%
Infragas Norway AS: 5.006%
Statoil Petroleum AS: 5.000%
Norsea Gas AS: 2.261%
ConocoPhillips Scandinavia AS: 1.678%
DONG E&P Norway AS: 0.983%
GDF SUEZ E&P Norway AS: 0.304%
RWE Dea Norway AS: 0.081%
Contractors:
ABB: Upgrading safety and automation system
Aibel: Electrical and instrumentation work at the Kårstø plant.
- Award of the KIP project (Kårstø Integrity Project). The work is in connection with planning, purchasing, fabrication and installation, including the necessary demolition work. The main job is the upgrade of the fire water and depressurisation systems as well as upgrading the Aalborg boiler. (October, 2016)
Bergen Group: Delivery of two gantry cranes
Buksér og Berging: Two escort tugboats
Fabricom: Fabrication and installation of pre-assembly units and pipe-racks, mechanical work, pipe tie-ins and installation
Foster Wheeler: FEED contract
GasOptics Sweden AB: GVS system
Hima-Sella Ltd.: HSE Services/Equipment
MW Kellogg Ltd (MWKL): FEED and EPC assistance for the double inlet crossover (DIXO) project and NGL metering project
Veidekke ASA: EPC - Site preparation and foundations
Mjørud AS: Contract covering engineering services as well as the production and installation of equipment. Placed by Statoil on behalf of operator Gassco, this assignment concerns upgrading systems related to compressors and steam boilers at the Kårstø process plant north of Stavanger. The contract involves the Åsgard compressor and associated steam boilers at the facility. Work will start immediately and is due to be completed during 2018. (December 2015)
Sub-contractors:
Jotron AS: Contract with Norwegian Aibel AS to supply PAGA system to Norwegian west coast landfall facility Kalstø. Aibel AS will do the total upgrade of Kalstø. This signed contract includes supply of a new PAGA system to Kalstø which will interface with an upgrade of the existing PAGA system at Kårstø processing plant. Jotron will supply the system, upgrade and interface capability in June 2015.
Veidekke Entreprenør AS: Contract with Aibel AS to perform work on the onshore facility at Kårstø which will provide power to the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea. Electrification of oil and gas activities with power from shore is an important measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the efficiency of oil production in the North Sea. (December 2015)