StatoilHydro to discontinue Troll development

StatoilHydro, as operator of the Troll field, has recommended to its partners to discontinue the Troll Future Development project.

The proposal is a consequence of information from Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to StatoilHydro and the partners in the Troll licence that the field’s gas production permits will not be increased beyond the current level.

“We and our partners have viewed Troll Future Development as an important project,” says StatoilHydro’s chief executive Helge Lund. “However, the project is dependent on increased gas production permits for the Troll field. We have to take the Ministry’s decision into account, and have therefore recommended that the project is stopped with immediate effect.”

StatoilHydro will consequently withdraw from the related Gas Network Expansion (GNE) project in its current form. The GNE project is aimed at realising a new gas export pipeline from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) to Europe.

StatoilHydro is presently working on outlining the group’s strategy, targets and ambitions. Today’s recommendation regarding Troll Future Development will be incorporated in this work. Strategic highlights and corporate targets will be presented as planned at the group’s Capital Markets Day on 9 January 2008.