Equinor, Norway’s state-owned energy company, has received official approval from the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority, known as Havtil, to advance the Verdande development located at the Norne field in the Norwegian Sea. This green light signifies the commencement of operations at Verdande, which will be linked to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO) Norne, situated approximately 80 kilometers north of the Heidrun field.
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The Norne field was initially discovered in 1992 and saw its plan for development and operation approved in 1995. It became operational in 1997, utilizing an FPSO that connects to seven subsea templates. Following the approval received in late 2022 for Verdande, Equinor has been diligently preparing for the tieback to Norne.
Drilling activities at the Verdande site commenced in 2023, leveraging the capabilities of the Transocean’s Encourage rig under a nine-well contract. The field is projected to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2025. The initial investment for the rollout is estimated at approximately NOK 5 billion (around $448 million).
Verdande combines both the Cape Vulture and Alve North-East discoveries, which were validated in 2017 and 2020 respectively. This development resides about 300 kilometers southwest of Bodø. The oil extracted from Verdande will be transported by shuttle tanker, while associated gas will transit through the Åsgard Transport system towards the Kårstø processing facility.
The project boasts recoverable resources estimated at 36 million barrels of oil equivalent. Equinor emphasizes that Verdande features a low emissions profile, with a CO₂ intensity of 1.6 kg per barrel of oil equivalent, markedly below typical industry standards.
Equinor holds a 59.3% operational stake in Verdande, accompanied by partners including Petoro (22.4%), Vår Energi (10.5%), Aker BP (7%), and PGNiG Upstream Norway (0.8%).
This development is part of Equinor’s overarching strategy to prolong the lifespan of the Norne FPSO and bolster Norway’s offshore production capabilities. It follows a series of recent advancements, including the launch of a subsea field in the Barents Sea, where gas production is directed to the Melkøya LNG plant for processing.
With the advent of Verdande, Equinor aims to fortify its oil and gas portfolio, as it continues to expand production in both sectors, which have exceeded expectations as of August 2025.
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