Norwegian natural gas production again below forecast in August

Natural gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf continued to be beneath forecast levels for the fourth month in a row in August, according to figures released by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) on Tuesday.

Preliminary data showed total monthly gas production fell by 8% month on month, to 7.34billion cubic metres (bcm). Year on year, there was a marginal increase in production of just 0.4%.

Since May, forecasts have been well above actual production, and August was no different, with the prognosis standing 9% higher than what was delivered.

“Our forecasts are based on figures we get from the production companies, and sometimes they don’t deliver the gas,” an NPD spokesman said. “If demand is low, production will be reduced,” he added.

The spokesman also pointed out that the impact of scheduled maintenance cannot always be foreseen until the work is underway.