UK GAS-Prompt prices fall on expectations for higher Norway supply

* Norwegian imports expected to rise on Thursday

* Gas curve dips on weaker oil prices

LONDON, July 22 (Reuters) - Prompt British gas prices dipped on Wednesday morning as a balanced system and expectations of increased supply on Thursday weighed on the market.

The day-ahead contract traded at 43.50 pence per therm at 0850 GMT, down 0.65 pence since its last settlement.

"The DA (day-ahead) contract is set to fall today for a combination of reasons. Foremost is the return of Troll production scheduled for tomorrow, which should bring a significant increase in Langeled flows," analysts at Thomson Reuters Point Carbon said in a daily research note.

Norwegian imports via the Langeled pipeline were around 17 million cubic metres (mcm), National Grid (LSE: NG.L - news) data showed, but are expected to rise to around 40 mcm on Thursday, the analysts said.

Troll is Norway's biggest gas field while Langeled is Britain's main sub-sea gas import route.

With supply at 161.1 mcm per day and demand expected to be 165.5 mcm, the system was almost balanced, National Grid data showed.

Gas prices further along the curve edged lower, with the Winter 2015 contract down 0.40 pence at 45.95 pence per therm.. The Summer 16 contract was 0.35 lower at 41.50 pence per therm

Traders said weak oil contracts had pushed gas curve contracts down.

Forward gas contracts, due to a longstanding practice which fixes long-term gas prices to crude, are sensitive to swings in oil markets.

Oil prices fell on Wednesday after industry data showed U.S. crude inventories rose last week when they had been expected to drop.

In the Netherlands, the day-ahead gas price at the TTF hub was 0.15 euros higher at 20.85 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh).

The benchmark European Union carbon price dipped 0.05 euros to 7.92 euros per tonne on ICE Futures Europe. (Reporting by Susanna Twidale; editing by Jason Neely)