Shut-downs for maintenance and modifications dramatically curbed production figures offshore Norway in August, the last month measured by a national stats keeper.

Norwegian oil production fell in the month by 84,000 barrels per day over last August to 1,993,000 bpd, although daily production for 2008 is said to be up to 2.1 MM bpd. The difference is equivalent to a major oilfield.

In all, the Nordic country produced 108.82 MM barrels of oil equivalent in August, down 6.92 million barrels oil equivalent — gas, natural gas liquids, and condensate — over last year’s monthly tally, according to Statistics Norway.

Production from six major oil and gas fields was effectively cut for major works, while a damaged pipeline at two fields, Kvitebjørn and Visund, also forced a to stop flows.

Norwegians are concerned about slumping oil production, and the daily average, according to the report’s authors, show September thus far at 1,988,000 MM bpd, helped by new oilfield Vilje since July 2008.