The 28-in diameter, 143-km long, pipeline comes ashore at Melkoya outside Hammerfest in northern Norway, and is the world's longest multi-phase flow pipeline. The pipeline will bring gas ashore for processing and liquefaction before being exported as LNG. "Multiphase transfer of the wellstream to land represents a substantial technological leap," says Margareth Ovrum, executive vice president for technology and projects. "This marks the culmination of more than 20 years of research and development." Statoil will use the pipeline as a full-scale laboratory to provide information on multi-phase flow transport over long distances when the Snohvit line becomes operational in the autumn next year. New commercial opportunities will open for this technology, the company says. The pipelaying operation began from Melkoya on 18 April; three pipe carriers shuttled between the Solitaire and Polarbase, outside Hammerfest, to ensure a steady supply of linepipe. To reduce long free spans on the seabed, gravel is being dumped over the pipeline. Gas deliveries from the Hammerfest LNG plant at Melkoya will start on 1 October, 2006.