Norway has approved the reopening of three mature gas fields in the North Sea, with production scheduled to resume from 2028 (press release from the Norwegian Ministry of Energy, 05/05/2026).
The fields West Ekofisk, Albuskjell, and Tommeliten Gamma were discovered during the 1970s and entered production between 1977 and 1988. All three were shut down in 1998 following modifications carried out at the Ekofisk field.
These projects will contribute to increased gas output in the Ekofisk area. Recoverable resources are estimated at 90–120 mboe. Production will mainly consist of gas, alongside limited volumes of condensate. According to the press release, gas exports will be directed to Emden (Germany), while condensate will be shipped to Teesside (United Kingdom).
- ConocoPhillips Skandinavia serves as the operator for both developments. For Albuskjell and West Ekofisk, license ownership is distributed among Vår Energi (52%), ConocoPhillips (35%), ORLEN (8%), and Petoro AS (5%).
- In the case of Tommeliten Gamma, the license holders are ORLEN (63%), ConocoPhillips Skandinavia (28%), and Vår Energi (9%).
At the same time, the Norwegian government has opened 70 new blocks for exploration across the North Sea (22 blocks), Norwegian Sea (10 blocks), and Barents Sea (38 blocks), under the Awards in predefined areas 2026 (APA 2026). Bids are due by 1 September 2026 and awards are anticipated in the first quarter of 2027.