Executives from Equinor, Harbour Energy, and DNO have proposed methods to accelerate the development of Norway's significant portfolio of oil and gas discoveries, addressing the industry's concern over the average 10-year timeline from discovery to first production. This delay is seen as a major value loss, and the need for greater urgency was a central topic at the NCS Exploration Strategy conference in Stavanger. The consensus was that many undeveloped discoveries, particularly those suitable as subsea tie-backs to existing infrastructure, must be fast-tracked to production.

The Kjottkake Model: A Groundbreaking Example

The Kjottkake discovery was highlighted as a pioneering example of accelerated development. The project, involving Aker BP, DNO, and Concedo, is scheduled for first production in early 2028, just three years after its discovery. This rapid timeline is achieved by tying the discovery back to the Vaar Energi-operated Gjoa platform via the Harbour Energy-operated Nova subsea field, demonstrating a successful model for fast-tracking projects.

Challenging the Development Gate Process

A key proposal from the conference was to overhaul Norway's established three-stage "development gate" (DG) process, which features multi-year intervals between stages. Executives argued this system is a significant hindrance to speed. Harbour Energy's Stein Erlend Skei suggested eliminating the process entirely to find a faster path forward. Equinor's Therese Schistad Haaland noted the decades-old process may no longer be relevant and advocated for a simplified, fit-for-future approach. DNO's Regina Hermelin emphasized that the industry-created system fosters a comfortable but slow pace and that there is no longer time for such drawn-out procedures.

The Critical Role of Host Facility Access

For subsea tie-backs, securing access to a host production facility is a fundamental requirement. This is a particular challenge in Norway, where most facilities are operated by Equinor. DNO's Hermelin pointed to the Kjottkake success, which relied on early and close collaboration with the Gjoa and Nova facility operators. She stressed that future projects depend on early dialogue with hosts and access to information about their available production capacity. Equinor's Haaland agreed on the need for openness but highlighted regulatory complexities, noting that data is owned by licence partners, not just the operator, requiring specific agreements on data sharing. Harbour's Skei proposed a public digital platform to monitor host facility capacities, increasing transparency.

Streamlining Regulations and Aligning Partners

Another area identified for improvement is the Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) process. Harbour's Skei argued that the current PDO is designed for large, standalone projects and is unsuitable for marginal discoveries, suggesting a tailor-made PDO process for smaller fields. A further complexity involves aligning the multiple owners of both the new discovery and the host facility. The slow progress of the large Ringvei Vest cluster project, operated by Equinor, was cited as an example where a lack of alignment among partners hinders development. Equinor's Haaland stated that speed is impossible without aligned joint ventures, a sense of urgency, and a willingness to take commercial risks from all parties, including the government. Harbour's Skei called for the industry to work together to overcome ownership disputes and find a better balance between competition and collaboration.

Adopting a New Mindset for the Future

The Kjottkake project was described as a milestone and a "lighthouse" for the industry, proving that accelerated development is achievable. When questioned if this would be a one-off event, DNO's Hermelin confirmed her company intends to apply the Kjottkake model to its approximately 15 other