Key facts
- Norway's Troll Phase 3 Stage 2 development is now operational, accelerating gas production.
- The project will bring forward 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves.
- Production began on August 22, ahead of schedule and under budget.
- This development sustains high gas deliveries to Europe but does not increase total recoverable resources.
- Troll field supplies approximately 10% of European gas consumption.
Norway has initiated production from the second stage of its Troll Phase 3 gas development, accelerating the delivery of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Troll West reservoir. This move, which began on August 22, several months ahead of schedule and at a cost tens of millions of dollars below the initial $1.2 billion estimate, aims to sustain high gas exports to Europe.
The project's significance lies in its ability to bring forward existing gas reserves rather than increasing the field's total recoverable resources. This strategy supports ongoing production from Troll A and the Kollsnes processing plant, especially as output from other mature Norwegian fields declines. The accelerated volumes are equivalent to nearly two years of French gas demand, with the potential to add as much as 7 billion cubic meters annually, representing about 6% of Norway's recent yearly gas exports.
Lill Harriet Brusdal, Equinor's vice president for Troll and Kvitebjørn, stated that the project accelerates production to maintain high export levels from Troll and Kollsnes for as long as possible. The Troll field, with approximately 40% of the remaining gas reserves on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, is a cornerstone of European gas supply, accounting for about 10% of the continent's consumption.
Norway has become Europe's largest supplier of pipeline gas since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making the operational performance of fields like Troll critical for European energy security. Troll's advantages include its scale, low production emissions, and access to established infrastructure, with Troll A and Kollsnes powered from shore. This start-up follows Equinor's recent 15-year agreement to supply Germany's Uniper with over 30 terawatt-hours (approximately 2.8 billion cubic meters) of gas annually from 2027, highlighting the demand for long-term supply certainty.
The Troll Phase 3 Stage 2 development utilized existing facilities and standardized designs from the first stage, enabling a rapid transition from investment decision to first gas. Efficient drilling operations contributed to the early start and reduced costs. This approach of leveraging existing infrastructure is becoming standard on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for faster, lower-cost production.
While this acceleration provides Europe with a stable supply source and buys time, it does not represent new supply. Maintaining current export levels will necessitate future projects and discoveries to replace volumes brought forward. Without sufficient new resources, accelerating production could lead to a steeper decline in output later. The Troll field, however, with its substantial resource base and infrastructure, is expected to support European gas deliveries for decades.