Flows to Europe steady ahead of major field maintenance

Norway’s gas exports to Europe were broadly stable on Friday morning ahead of a production halt at its main gas processing plant and its biggest gas field next week.

Pipeline gas deliveries totaled 218 mcm at 0630 GMT on Friday morning in comparison to Thursday’s average of 216.6 mcm, data from gas system operator Gassco showed.

Deliveries to Belgium slipped by 3.3 mcm to 33.3 mcm, but supplies to France were up by 2.1 mcm to 46.9 mcm. Combined exports to Germany and the Netherlands were broadly stable at 123 mcm, while Britain, Europe’s most traded gas market, saw flows to inch up by 1.7 mcm to 14.8 mcm.

Langeled was the only pipeline bringing gas to Britain as Vesterled and FLAGS have been shut for maintenance. FLAGS is expected to be back in operation on Monday.

The nominations from UK’s gas system operator National Grid suggested Langeled flows rising to 20.7 mcm on Friday.

Norway’s 145 mcm capacity Kollsnes plant is scheduled to be shut down on Monday in coordination with maintenance at the country’s biggest gas field, Troll.

“We expect lower Norwegian production next week to affect flows both to the UK and to continental Europe,” analysts have said.

The maintenance at the plant and the field is expected to last until September 12 0400 GMT.

Analysts have said Statoil operated Troll field was nearing permitted production levels, but new quotas should be assigned from October when a new gas year starts.

Troll was expected to produce 31 billion cubic metres of gas this year.