The Irpa gas field, discovered in 2009, will be tied back to the Aasta Hansteen field, which is already in production. With estimated recoverable resources of 124 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), Irpa is the deepest field on the Norwegian continental shelf, located approximately 4,429 feet below the seabed. This development will extend the production life of the Aasta Hansteen field by seven years, until 2039. The planned startup for Irpa is in 2026, with a total investment of $1.38 billion (NOK 14.8 billion). Equinor operates the field with a 51 percent stake, along with partners Wintershall Dea AG (19 percent), Petoro AS (20 percent), and Norske Shell AS (10 percent).

The Verdande oil field, with recoverable resources of 36 million MMboe, predominantly consisting of oil, will be tied back to the Norne field. Equinor Energy AS leads the consortium as the operator with a 59.3 percent interest. The initial capital expenditure for the Verdande field is projected at $439.68 million (NOK 4.7 billion), and production is expected to commence in 2025. Other stakeholders in the field include Petoro (22.4 percent), Var Energi ASA (10.5 percent), Aker BP ASA (7 percent), and PGNiG Upstream Norway AS (0.8 percent).

The Andvare well, with a gas volume of nearly 70.63 billion cubic feet, is set to start production in 2024. Equinor Energy holds a 53 percent stake in the well, while DNO Norge AS has a 32 percent stake, and PGNiG holds 15 percent. The project has been allocated $46.77 million (NOK 500 million) in investment.

TechnipFMC PLC will supply parts of the subsea facility for the Irpa development, while Aibel AS has been awarded the contract for the platform gas tie-in. Aibel will also be responsible for modifications to the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel related to the Andvare well in the Norne field.

Equinor sees an opportunity to capitalize on the "current geopolitical situation" with these new projects, aiming to provide an alternative to Russian energy sources. The gas volumes from the Irpa field have the potential to supply 2.3 million households in the United Kingdom for seven years. Equinor plans to utilize the existing Aasta Hansteen infrastructure and transport the gas through the Polarled pipeline to the Nyhamna processing plant. From there, the gas will be transported via the Langeled pipeline system to customers in the UK and across Europe.

Norway aims to strengthen its role as a reliable energy supplier to Europe, particularly amid the European Union's efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has highlighted the high activity level in Norway's energy sector, contributing to the country's reputation as a safe and stable energy supplier. This year, Norway has drilled 18 exploration wells, resulting in seven discoveries with significant potential for oil and gas production.

The development of these fields marks a significant step forward in Norway's energy industry and demonstrates Equinor's commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions while diversifying Europe's energy sources.