Troll, Norway’s largest producing North Sea field, delivered a record 42.5 Bcm of gas in 2024. The previous high was 38.8 Bcm in 2022.

Operator Equinor credits a combination of high regularity, a year free of turnaround shutdowns and various upgrades that have improved overall efficiency. Another positive factor was a riser replacement on the Troll B platform.

The Troll A platform, which has been operating since 1996, was modified in 2021 to accommodate additional production from the gas cap in the western part of the Troll reservoir, supplied via a subsea development.

Troll B and C also supply gas via Troll A to the Kollsnes processing terminal in western Norway. Last year, both these facilities underwent part-electrification.

Indications to date are that CO₂ emissions fell as a result by about 15%, or 90,000 metric tons.

Kollsnes too has been upgraded in recent years (via a collaboration with operator Gassco) to the current 156 MMcm/d.

The Troll licensees are Equinor, Petoro, Norske Shell, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.

Elsewhere in the North Sea, the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) has approved Equinor Low Carbon Solution’s request for appraisal drilling at the site of the proposed Smeaheia Carbon Capture and Storage project.

The Deepsea Stavanger semisubmersible rig will drill well 32/7-U-1 in 300 m water depth.