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Hammerfest LNG plant stops after leak

The flame is burning as the Hammerfest LNG plant on the coast of the Barents Sea is shut down. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

Statoil continues to struggle with its Snøhvit gas plant. Water ingression causes ice formation in the cooling circuit.

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The production of liquid natural gas (LNG) is now halted because of the water ingression in the natural gas dryers, the company reports.

Statoil says a closer inspection will tell when the plant can start again, ensuring that big efforts are being made to get the gas liquefaction plant back on line.

Hammerfest LNG was Norway’s first offshore petroleum field in operation in the Barents Sea with production startup in 2007. The plant has struggled with its production several times in the course of the last five years.