Martin Linge field

Norwegian operator plans to drill 50% more exploration wells in Norway during 2022 than it did in 2021.

Norway’s Equinor has breached safety regulations at its long-delayed Martin Linge oil and gas development and must fix the problems before output can begin, an industry regulator said.

An analysis of existing wells in the Martin Linge field, conducted by Equinor when it took over as operator from Total, revealed that several did not have sufficient barriers, leading the company to plan new wells to ensure safe operation.

Equinor announced that one person at the Martin Linge field in the North Sea offshore Norway has tested positive for the coronavirus. The company says the person is not seriously ill.

The North Sea field, which holds an estimated 300 million BOE in recoverable resources, is now scheduled to start production in early 2020. Operator Equinor said the timeline was based on its assessment of the remaining scope of work on the project.