First oil gushes out of subsea tie-back project in North Sea

February 2, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Norwegian oil and gas player Aker BP has brought online a subsea development tied back to an existing platform in the North Sea off the coast of Norway.

Among the multiple development plans the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) approved in 2023 was Solveig Phase 2, which was to be connected via existing infrastructure at Solveig to the Edvard Grieg platform from the first quarter of 2026. This has become the fifth Aker BP-operated project sanctioned in 2022 that has now come on stream.

The oil production from the Solveig Phase 2 development in the North Sea is said to have been delivered on schedule and within budget, adding approximately 39 million barrels of oil equivalent in recoverable resources to the Solveig field located around 15 kilometers south of the Edvard Grieg platform.

The development entails three wells targeting both new and existing reservoir segments to help extend plateau production from the Solveig field while making efficient use of available capacity on the Edvard Grieg platform. The development has been carried out in close collaboration with several suppliers.

While TechnipFMC delivered the subsea systems, Moreld Apply performed modifications on the Edvard Grieg platform. The drilling operations were undertaken by Odfjell Drilling and Halliburton through Aker BP’s drilling and wells alliance. The operator explains that these suppliers have contributed to the safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of the project.

Illustration of Edvarg Grieg and Solveig; Source: Aker BP

Following the first oil and gas production from the Edvard Grieg field in November 2015, the total P2 reserves, estimated at 379 million barrels of oil equivalent, increased from the 186 million estimated when the plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved, thanks to larger oil quantities than initially presumed.

Aker BP is the operator of both Solveig (PL359) and Edvard Grieg (PL338) with a 65% working interest, while OMV Norge (20%) and Harbour Energy Norge (15%) are partners in both licences.

Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP, commented: “Aker BP has once again delivered a project safely, efficiently and with high quality. Bringing Solveig Phase 2 on stream on time and within budget demonstrates the strength of our suppliers and our execution model – creating value for our shareholders, partners and society.”

The Norwegian oil and gas player recently prolonged a rig deal with Saipem and acquired more offshore acreage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), as part of Norway’s award in the pre-defined areas 2025 (APA 2025) round.