May 7 (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips COP.N said on Thursday that Norway's energy ministry has approved development and operating plans for a project in the Greater Ekofisk area, a move expected to boost gas deliveries to Europe.

The Previously Produced Fields (PPF) project is a joint redevelopment of the Albuskjell, Vest Ekofisk and Tommeliten Gamma fields, and is expected to deliver between 90 million and 120 million barrels of oil equivalent in recoverable gas and condensate.

According to plans presented to the Norwegian government in February, ConocoPhillips and its partners will invest about 20 billion Norwegian crowns ($2.16 billion) to bring the three fields, shut down in 2019, back online.

ConocoPhillips has a 35.1% stake in Albuskjell and Vest Ekofisk, and 28.3% in Tommeliten Gamma.

Other partners in Albuskjell and Vest Ekofisk are Var Energi VAR.OL with 52.3%, Orlen Upstream PKN.WA with 7.6% and state-owned Petoro with 5%.

Orlen and Var have 62.6% and 9.1% in Tommeliten Gamma, respectively.

The first gas production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2028.

($1 = 9.2788 Norwegian crowns)