This line, which currently forms part of the Kvitebjørn licence operated by StatoilHydro, was dragged out of position and damaged by a ship’s anchor in the autumn of 2007.

StatoilHydro is due to repair the damage before the facility becomes part of the Gassled joint venture with Gassco as its operator.

The pipeline transporting gas from Kvitebjørn and Visund will become a separate tariff area in Gassco, identified by the letter G.

“The Kvitbjørn rich gas line will transfer to Gassled in the month after StatoilHydro has completed the repair,” reports department head Ingjald Gjersvik at Gassco.

In a separate move, the Norne Gas Transport System (NGTS) is due to be incorporated in Gassled from 1 January as a new tariff area designated H.

The pipeline is currently owned by a separate joint venture with Gassco as the operator.

“This change represents the most appropriate solution, since the NGTS will be transporting third-party gas from the new Alve field after the New Year,” says Mr Gjersvik.

Etanor DA, which financed construction of an ethane extraction plant at Kårstø near Haugesund, retained tariff revenues from the facility even after it was taken over by Gassled in 2005.

This arrangement will cease on 1 January, when Gassled acquires the tariff revenues from the extraction plant and Etanor is wound up.