Weather Restrains Statoil's Work

Norway?s Statoil ASA sought inquired government permission Tuesday to resume partial production from two North Sea oil fields after a Nov. 28 natural gas leak shut them down.

The company hopes to revive 100,000 bpd production from its Vigdis field and a portion of the Snorre A field, which have a normal daily capacity of 205,000 bpd.

Bad weather has hampered Statoil?s plans to resume the work, partly because it has prevented the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority from completing inspections required before it will allow production to resume.

The authority promised to quickly review and respond to the new proposal.