YP Guide

THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL’S GUIDE TO Stavanger, Norway

Tony Fernandez, Shruti Jahagirdar, Marjan Jamshidi, Tyler Roberts, and Jim Stiernberg

n the land known for the midnight government. The Prime Minister appoints vital to the oil and gas industry. Further sun, beautiful snow-clad mountains, a Cabinet of ministers, which with the evidence of Stavanger’s growing Iand the green sky lights, there is a Prime Minister comprises the Council diversity and influence on the world stage place where the “black gold” shines. of State. The supreme legislature is the is the establishment of the NATO Joint The oil capital of Norway, the southwest Storting, located in the capital of Oslo. Warfare Center in 2003. coastal city of Stavanger has grown into The political parties represented in the one of the major international oil and gas Storting choose the Prime Minister. A Vibrant Center hubs. As the importance of North Sea Besides Harald Fairhair, another The city’s oil history dates to the 1969 oil and gas production has increased for iconic historical figure of the Stavanger discovery of the Ekofisk field in the Europe, Stavanger has welcomed the southern North Sea. More than 40 years world to its doorstep. The personality of of oil and gas production later, Stavanger Stavanger is not only oil and gas; in 2008, Stavanger was has been transformed into Norway’s it was chosen as one of two European undisputed energy epicenter with a cultural capitals. A lively city, Stavanger chosen in 2008 as one vibrant petroleum community comprising embraces the diversity of the world’s of two European a who’s who of employers. Stavanger professionals who call Norway home. is home to Statoil’s headquarters and cultural capitals. regional headquarters of operators The City in Perspective such as ExxonMobil, BP, Total, and During the 8th century, about 30 small region is chieftain Erling Skjalgsson. ConocoPhillips. In addition, more than kingdoms existed in Norway. The He is credited with freeing his slaves 280 service companies and a collection country’s first king, Harald Fairhair, centuries before doing so became a of petroleum-related government fought and won a battle north of broad social issue. Monuments to the first bodies conduct business in the city. Stavanger that led to the unification of king and the chieftain are ubiquitous in Every 2 years, the city welcomes the country. The Viking era that followed the city. the global energy industry to one of the further expanded and unified Norway, Before the discovery of oil and gas world’s leading energy meetings, the while coastal cities such as Stavanger in the North Sea, Stavanger’s economic Offshore Northern Seas Conference. The thrived as Viking settlements. Civil pillars were the shipping, shipbuilding, event provides an opportunity for young war and territorial disputes shaped the and fishing industries. Today, the city has professionals (YPs) to present innovative country over the next thousand years. Norway’s second-largest international ideas. Over the years, the presentation Today, Norway is a constitutional airport and a world-class harbor. of the “young professional company monarchy with a parliamentary system. Although the city’s population is only award,” given to the best idea presented King Harald V is the head of state. 126,000, its influence on the region and at the conference, has become a popular The Prime Minister is the head of the the North Sea make it a community part of the event.

30 Norway’s oil and gas activities are who study the behavior of the crew its open and inclusive culture. While concentrated in the North Sea, the during normal operations and adverse walking along the harbor, it is not unusual Norwegian Sea, and the Barents Sea. conditions. to come across a group of multinational Production from these areas makes The North Sea has been at the professionals enjoying fresh seafood or Norway one of the top hydrocarbon- forefront of production technology and listening to music from around the world producing countries in the world. Further, safety. Statoil has been a major influence in one of the many pubs. since all its electricity needs are met by on the cooperative development in the The transformation of a small fishing hydroelectric power, Norway exports all North Sea of new technology by oil community into a world center for oil but 5% of its hydrocarbon production, a operators. The Norwegian Continental and gas professionals is nothing short volume that makes it the second-largest Shelf poses unique challenges to of amazing. YPs from around the world net exporter of gas and the third-largest completion and production, making it relocate to Stavanger for the North Sea oil exporter in the world. an ideal location for applying the latest way of life and leave enriched by the Norway has produced only about technologies. In the North Sea, Norway’s Norwegian experience. TWA 20% of its estimated 13 billion bbl of Statoil natural gas platform, Sleipner, hydrocarbons, cementing its future strips carbon dioxide out of the natural as a substantial player in the industry. gas with amine solvents and disposes of Revenues from oil and gas activity are it by geological sequestration. Sleipner invested in a government pension fund. reduces emissions of carbon dioxide As of the second quarter of 2011, the by approximately 1 million tonnes per fund’s market value reached 3.11 trillion year. Regulations and standards for the FACTS kroner (about USD 560 billion), making it region are authored by a collective body the second-largest single-owner fund in comprising oil companies, trade unions, Stavanger the world and ensuring financial security and the Petroleum Safety Authority of • Home of Statoil headquarters for future Norwegian generations. Norway. The collaboration has led to • Home of the Norwegian an impeccable safety record driven by Petroleum Directorate North Sea Success internal control. Conventional North Sea oil production, a • Half of the total Norwegian oil mainstay of Stavanger’s economy since Endless Attractions and gas industry is located in the the 1960s, has been in decline over The city of Stavanger and the Stavanger region the past decade, while the percentage surrounding region provide endless • S tavanger means “the bay area of water produced with the oil has attractions to visitors, particularly those near the steep cliffs” risen. The change has created a need looking for outdoor activities and events. • 1,077 SPE members, including for research and development of new Locals will suggest the 4-day food 290 young professionals, in technologies in the unconventional festival known as “Gladmat festivalen” the Stavanger Section in 2011; resources field and is the prime reason for a taste of native and foreign foods. website: http://www.spe.no/ the University of Stavanger and the The annual summer festival began stavanger/ International Research Institute of in 1999 and has grown to encompass Stavanger (IRIS) have focused on downtown. On one of the many sun- multiphase flow research for more than drenched days in southwest Norway, Norway three decades. IRIS has also made visitors to Stavanger take the short trip • Oil and gas produced to date: concerted efforts with the University of to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), a large 2.7 billion BOE Bergen to improve recovery through rock platform from where the once-in- • Norway plans to become the methods such as surfactant and a-lifetime view from 2,000 ft above sea primary UK gas supplier using polymer flooding, CO2 flooding, and level impresses every person who dares the introduction of microorganisms. to walk to its edge. If the rock’s height is new and existing pipelines Additional efforts aimed at increasing not intimidating enough, then driving to • In coming years, the country will production come from the Center for Oil the nearby Kjerag mountain will pique supply approximately 25% of Recovery, which was established in 2002 your interest. Kjeragbolten is a large Europe’s gas requirements with industrial partners in the Ekofisk rock wedged into the mountain at 3,280 ft • Annual investment in the license: ConocoPhillips, Total, Petoro, above sea level. The breathtaking views Norwegian Continental Shelf is Eni, and Statoil. of the surrounding mountains and river estimated at USD 22 billion Upstream research conducted ways become memories for life. • 2,767 SPE members, including by IRIS has been aided by its virtual During the beautiful summer months, 702 student members, in 2011; rig, which can simulate a well with an Stavanger is an ideal place for outdoor • Five SPE sections: Bergen, advanced model containing hydraulics, events and activities. On any given geomechanics, mechanical elements, day, Norwegians can be found riding Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, and and real-time scenario simulations for their bikes through the city center, Northern Norway any decision the drill crew makes. The windsurfing along the coast, or driving • Four SPE student chapters: main target of the study is automated to the mountains to enjoy skiing and Bergen, Oslo, Stavanger, and drilling. Unique to this type of laboratory snowboarding. Stavanger epitomizes Trondheim is the section set aside for psychologists Norwegian living and visitors can enjoy

Vol. 8 // No. 1 // 2012 31