(WO) – Equinor and its Troll partners will complete the Troll West Electrification (TWEL) project without installing a second electric export compressor on Troll C, scaling back the plan in the field’s 2021 plan for development and operation (PDO). The partnership has told Norway’s Ministry of Energy that the project will be considered complete once the first electric export compressor on Troll C is commissioned.
The partners said the main assumptions behind the project have changed since it was sanctioned. At that time, any temporary loss of capacity on Troll C could be made up with more production from Troll A. Since 2023, however, Troll has produced at maximum capacity year-round, which makes compressor capacity on Troll C much more valuable. Installing the second compressor would have meant a long modification period, cutting Troll C production for up to 21 months. The compressor would also only have been needed until the mid-2030s, when demand for it is expected to end, while Troll C is expected to operate until about 2050. Equinor said the decision will make about 2.3 Bcm (81 Bcf) more gas available to Europe in 2027 and 2028.
“TWEL has delivered significant emission reductions from the Troll area. At the same time, we have undertaken a new overall assessment of the remaining part of the project. We believe this is the best solution when balancing emission reductions, energy deliveries and value creation,” said Trond Bokn, Equinor’s senior vice president for project development.
TWEL has cut CO₂ emissions from the Troll area by about 330,000 metric tons/yr, roughly 75% of the 440,000 metric tons/yr planned in the PDO. Troll B and Troll C were partly electrified in 2024, and Troll A has run on power from shore since it started up in 1996. Equinor said emissions from the Troll area are now back to about their 1999 level. Once TWEL is complete:
Troll B will run with one electrified and two gas-driven export compressors.
Troll C will run with two electric export compressors and one gas-driven.
Kollsnes: Lower power demand on Troll C will free up about 26 MW of reserved power capacity at Kollsnes.
“Troll will remain a cornerstone of Europe’s energy supply for many years to come. High regularity and stable production are important for energy security, value creation and the continued development of the Troll area,” said Frode Skarstein, Equinor’s senior vice president for exploration and production west. Troll is the largest gas field on the Norwegian continental shelf. Petoro holds 55.93% of the license, Equinor (operator) 30.55%, Shell 8.19%, TotalEnergies 3.69% and ConocoPhillips 1.64%.
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