Total to Start Atla Production This Week

French supermajor Total has confirmed to Reuters news agency that it will begin production on the Norwegian Atla field later this week.

Speaking to the news agency, a spokesperson for Total said that the company was finalising its preparations for the field and expected to begin presently. The start up of production is in line with the company's schedule date for the commencement of production on the field.

"We hope to be up and running with gas later this week," the spokesperson said. "There are still some issues to be solved at the host platform."

The Atla field (formerly known as the David field), which will be tied back to the Heimdal platform, was first discovered in 2010 and has been fast-tracked through development since then. The field is estimated to have reserves of approximately 1.4 billion cubic metres.

Total E&P Norge is the operator of the Atla field with a 40 per cent stake. Petoro holds a 30 per cent stake, while Centrica and Det Norske hold a 20 per cent and 10 per cent stake respectively.