Equinor’s Martin Linge Field Costs Rise Again, Startup Delayed

Norway has again revised up the estimated cost of developing the Martin Linge oil and gas field, which state-controlled Equinor bought from France’s Total in 2017, with the startup delayed until 2020, according to the fiscal budget.

The North Sea field is now expected to cost 47 billion crowns ($5.7 billion) to develop, up from the 41 billion crowns ($4.9 billion) estimated last year, and 59% more than originally seen in 2012.

The field’s start-up has also been pushed back to first-quarter 2020 from first-half 2019, the budget showed.