Vesterled

Vesterled is a natural gas pipeline system, which runs from the Heimdal field (Heimdal Riser platform) in the North Sea to St Fergus Gas Plant near Peterhead in Scotland. The name Vesterled is the term used by the Vikings for their westward voyages, i.e. vesterled = "the way westward".

Vesterled
Location
Country	Norway, United Kingdom
General direction	east–west
From	Frigg field, Heimdal field
Passes through	North Sea
To	St. Fergus, Scotland
Runs alongside	Frigg pipeline
General information
Type	natural gas
Owner	Gassled
Operator	Gassco
Technical service provider	Total E&P UK Plc
Construction started	1974
Commissioned	1978
Technical information
Length	360 km (220 mi)
Maximum discharge	12 billion cubic meter
Diameter	32 in (813 mm)

History

Originally the Vesterled pipeline was known as the Frigg Norwegian Pipeline, which was built in 1974–1978 to transport gas from the Frigg field to the United Kingdom. It was laid in parallel to the Frigg UK Pipeline creating the Frigg Transportation System.^[1] It became operational in August 1978. As the Frigg field was running to cease production, the spur line from the Heimdal field was put in operation on 1 October 2001.^[2][3]

Technical description

The pipeline is 360-kilometre (220 mi) long and has a diameter of 32 inches (810 mm). The Vesterled pipeline consists of two sections: a 38-kilometre (24 mi) long pipeline links the Heimdal Riser with the former Frigg Norwegian Pipeline.^[4] The capacity of Vesterled is about 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. The pipeline system is owned by Gassled and operated by Gassco.