NORWAY'S oil and natural gas output fell below forecasts in September, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). The NPD's production report for the month, released on Thursday, showed that crude production fell to 1.64 million barrels per day in September, down from an average of 1.78 bpd in August and short of the forecast 1.82 million bpd. Natural gas production for September averaged 303 million cubic metres per day, falling short of the forecast 323.9 MMcmd. September output was down on the August average of 345 MMcmd, but on par with the same period last year. The decline in production, at a time when Norway was looking to supply more natural gas into Europe, was due partly to maintenance carried out at the major Troll field, which holds about 40 of the country's proven gas reserves. Troll has been producing close to its nameplate capacity of 127.5 MMcmd, but this was reduced by 40 MMcmd during a week of maintenance work, according to data from Norwegian gas grid operator Gassco.
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