The Norwegian Oil Adventure

Far out in the Norwegian Sea, some of the world’s most advanced oil and gas platforms rise above the surface like gigantic trolls. These structures are the beating heart of the Norwegian oil adventure—an industry that has shaped the nation, funded its welfare system, and laid the foundation for what is now called the Oil Fund, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. Platforms like Ormen Lange, Njord, Draugen, Åsgard, and Heidrun have produced immense value. The natural gas and oil extracted from these fields are exported across Europe and continue to generate vital revenue for Norway—even after more than 50 years of production. The technology involved is cutting-edge, with many of the installations located deep beneath the ocean floor. The platform names are not chosen at random. They are drawn from Norse mythology and royal sagas: Ormen Lange was the legendary longship of King Olav Tryggvason, Njord is the god of the sea, Draugen a sea spirit or ghost, while Åsgard and Heidrun come directly from the Norse realm of the gods. This is Norway in a nutshell — where history and modernity meet, where innovation walks hand in hand with tradition, and where global knowledge flows together in one place. And yes, of course there’s a field called Troll. This is Norway, after all. But that one lies a bit farther south.