By Dominic Chopping


Norwegian energy major Equinor ASA said Tuesday that it has initiated a shutdown of the Gudrun, Oseberg South and Oseberg East fields on the Norwegian continental shelf after energy-sector workers went on strike from midnight.

An offshore collective pay deal proposed by employer body Norwegian Oil and Gas Association was agreed to by two unions that jointly represent about 85% of operator employees on the Norwegian continental shelf. However, members of the Lederne union rejected the deal and voted to strike.

As a result, the Equinor-operated Gudrun, Oseberg South and Oseberg East fields have been forced to shut down, halting the production of 89,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day from the fields, of which around 27,500 are natural gas.

A further extension of the strike from the night before July 6 has been notified for the Heidrun, Kristin and Aasta Hansteen fields, which will force those fields as well as the Tyrihans field to shut down.

Total production from Heidrun, Kristin/Tyrihans and Aasta Hansteen is around 333,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day, of which 264,000 are natural gas.

"A further escalation has been announced from July 9 at Sleipner, Gullfaks A and Gullfaks C," it said.


Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-05-22 0301ET