Melkøya
Onshore LNG export facility on Melkøya island near Hammerfest, Norway, processing gas from the offshore Snøhvit, Albatross and Askeladd subsea fields. Commissioned in 2007, the plant liquefies natural gas for shipment to global markets. Melkøya acts as the southern terminal of Barents Sea gas export infrastructure, with extensive storage and liquefaction trains.
Operator: Equinor Energy AS
Status: Operational
Image Source: Equinor Energy AS. (All rights belong to the original owner.)
Production: Gas
Operations start: 2004
Water depth: 0 m
Country: Norway
Block: NA
Type: Onshore
Field
The Snøhvit area in the Barents Sea is a gas-rich development with subsea wells tied to a pipeline transporting gas ~143-km to Melkøya. Reservoirs are in multiple formations and include Snøhvit, Albatross and the recently tied Askeladd and Askeladd Vest. Snøhvit was the first development on the Norwegian shelf without surface platforms.
Facilities
Hammerfest LNG comprises multiple liquefaction trains designed to cool natural gas to -163-°C, producing LNG, LPG and condensate. Feed gas arrives via a long subsea pipeline from the Barents Sea and is pretreated to remove water and CO-; CO- is compressed and reinjected into the reservoir for storage. Two large LNG storage tanks (~125-000-m³ each) and LPG/condensate tanks support inventory prior to export by LNG carriers. Liquefaction uses electric-driven refrigerant compression, a design noted as Europe's first. Utilities include power generation (transitioning to shore power under the Snøhvit Future project), steam boilers, and safety and control systems. Export logistics centre on ship loading; LNG carriers depart regularly, serving European and global markets. Support systems include firewater, environmental controls and high-integrity control and safety systems suited to Arctic conditions.
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