Great expectations had been aroused by the “golden block” on Norway’s continental shelf (NCS), and a Norwegian-only partnership was very pleased to be allocated this 34/10 acreage in 1978. But proving Gullfaks was not without its problems. Exploration on the block began in June that year, but it took 10 exploration wells – together with a dramatic “kick” and a blowout – before operator Statoil could declare the discovery commercial.

The feasibility study for Block 34/10, submitted to the authorities on November 20, 1980, outlined several potential development solutions for the field. None of these were identical to how the field was ultimately developed.

The approval for the Gullfaks development was granted by Parliament on June 10, 1981. While the main focus of the proposal was on bringing gas from Statfjord to shore, Gullfaks was included somewhat unexpectedly, as noted during the parliamentary debate.

On 2 May 1982 it was finally decided that the field, previously known as both Block 34/10 and the “Gold Block,” would be called Gullfaks.

On 2 February 1983, construction began on the first of the three platforms that would eventually define the Gullfaks field.

The deck for Gullfaks A was a major and important contract, securing jobs for many people. Construction of the deck began in August 1983.

In 1984, the Gullfaks A project was awarded the Quality Assurance Prize by the Norwegian Association for Quality (NFK) – a recognition Statoil could be proud of, even though the credit for the achievement had to be shared with many partners.

Despite Statoil Reaching an Agreement with Hydro on the Gullpipe Plans, Parliament Ultimately Said No. As a result, the proposed gathering pipeline for crude oil from Gullfaks and Oseberg to Mongstad never came to fruition.

On 4 June 1984, work began on constructing the shafts for Gullfaks A. Over the following year, the shafts were completed, including being equipped with mechanical installations.

Construction of the Gullfaks B substructure began on 22 October 1984, earlier than initially expected. The work in the dry dock progressed as planned, despite neighbour disputes over noise.

In the autumn of 1984, two and a half years before production was scheduled to begin on Gullfaks A, Statoil’s new office facilities were ready for occupation. The administrative center for Statoil Bergen was established at Sandsli, 17 kilometers outside the city center.

When the State’s Direct Financial Interest (SDFI) was introduced, Statoil’s ownership share in the Gullfaks field dropped from 85 to 12 percent. In the short term, this meant increased cash flow for Statoil.

After the deck frame for Gullfaks A was launched on February 22, 1985, the next phase was module lifting. The various modules for Gullfaks A were built in multiple locations, mostly in Norway, before being transported to Stord for installation.

On April 15, 1985, Moss Rosenberg Shipyard signed a contract to build the Gullfaks B deck. With the new order, the yard gained some breathing room to carry out reorganizations aimed at increasing its competitiveness for the future. This was not without controversy.

On 7 June 1985, the Storting approved Gullfaks Phase II, the construction of Gullfaks C.

On 16 August 1985, the substructure of Gullfaks A was on the move. Something resembling four grey columns was slowly towed by nine tugboats toward its next destination.

In September 1985, one year after the new office building at Sandsli was inaugurated, the training center was opened. During its first four years, the center was fully dedicated to training personnel assigned to the Gullfaks platforms. 

Norwegian Contractors’ work on the slipforming for Gullfaks B in the autumn of 1985 was not without problems. First, the launch took longer than expected, and then a strike broke out. It was not until 21 October 1985 that the parties reached an agreement.

On the evening of November 4, 1985, the barge Concem capsized in Gandsfjorden with 22 people on board. Twelve were rescued, while ten lost their lives. Two of the victims were never found.

In August 1985, the Gullfaks A substructure was towed from Gandsfjorden to Digernessundet. Six months later, in January 1986, it was connected to the topside.

When Norway’s largest industrial contract went to a Condeep project, it meant only one thing: this would be big and heavy. The groundwork was laid at Hinnavågen.

On 18 April 1986, the champagne bottle shattered against Gullfaks A. It marked the beginning of a long harvest.

On 5 May 1986, the Gullfaks A platform set out on its journey to the Gullfaks field, where it would produce oil and gas for the next 30 years?

On September 11, 1986, it was decided: the deck for the world’s heaviest platform would be built by Aker Stord. Moss Rosenberg Verft had to concede defeat.

On September 25, 1986, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visited Stavanger for the first time. During his ten-hour stay in the city, he had the opportunity to take a closer look at both the Gullfaks C substructure and the deck of Gullfaks B.

The start of construction in the plate workshop at Aker Stord in October 1986 marked the beginning of bustling activity at the yard in Leirvik. Much was similar to the Gullfaks A topside that had been built at the same location a few years earlier, but there were also important differences.

On 22 December 1986, just before Christmas, Gullfaks A came on stream - six months ahead of schedule.

Thursday, 29 January 1987, the first crude oil was loaded onto "MT Sarita".

On April 5, 1987, the substructure of Gullfaks B was set in motion. To meet the steel deck, it had to be moved into deep water.

On April 29, 1987, the substructure and the topside were joined. Gullfaks B was well on its way to becoming complete.

If there is a common thread between towing base sections and some lessons from life itself, it is this: Detours take you the farthest.

On June 19, 1987, the flag was raised on Gullfaks A. The platform had officially started production!

Monday the 29th of June 1987, Gullfaks B was christened—the middle and smallest of the three platforms on the Gullfaks field.

If you ever want to study large‑scale offshore vertical slipforming, there is hardly a better or bigger example than what unfolded at Vats from the summer of 1987 to the spring of 1988.

On July 31, 1987, it was time for Gullfaks B to cut its anchor ties to the shore and head out to sea.

29 February 1988 - nine months ahead of the original plan, Gullfaks B came on stream.

On the evening of 30 December 1988, the substructure of Gullfaks C set out on a journey – in search of the topside. Many held their breath. How would it go, moving something so enormous in the middle of winter?

On 27 February 1989, the Gullfaks C topside was mated to the substructure.

Gullfaks C is the world’s heaviest platform and thus the heaviest “baby” ever christened - at least as far as we know.

Early in the morning of 2 May 1989, Gullfaks C was released from the last moorings. Eleven tugs applied their power with precision. At first there was barely any movement – then there was no doubt: the giant had started to move.

The last step before Gullfaks C could begin earning back the billions invested was commissioning at the field. The work started in May 1989 and employed 800 people.

When did production start on Gullfaks C? That depends on what you mean by start of production.

White shirt, tie, and a navy-blue knitted cardigan with a collar - that was the outfit the management team on Gullfaks C was instructed to wear when royalty came to visit. But had they done any other preparations?

On June 29, 1991, Gullfaks B employees launched a replica of the platform in Besserudtjernet at the bottom of the Holmenkollen ski jump. The event was Gullfaks' contribution to the popular TV show «Take the Chance».

Production on Snorre A began on 3 August 1992. Oil from Snorre is sent to Gullfaks A, while the gas is reinjected into the reservoir.

The 1994 winter Olympics at Lillehammer north of Oslo was acclaimed as a sporting and organisational success. As one of nine main sponsors, Statoil supplied the fuel for the Olympic flame – which is why the torch relay around Norway also called at Gullfaks, the most Norwegian field of them all.

Production from Tordis began on 3 June 1994. Oil and gas are produced using subsea installations and sent to Gullfaks C for processing and storage prior to transport.

On October 7, 1994, a production record was set at the Gullfaks field – in a year with several other records.

On 16 November 1994, the flare on Gullfaks A was extinguished. Just under a month later, the same happened on Gullfaks B.

Production from Vigdis began on 28 January 1997. The oil is processed on Snorre A before being sent to Gullfaks A, where it is stored pending transport. The gas is reinjected into the Snorre field.

In the summer of 1997, Gullfaks A was expanded with Module 18 and Module 35. The new modules were intended to prepare the platform to receive new well streams.

On 10 October 1998, production started at Gullveig, marking the start of production for Gullfaks Sør.

On 7 February 1999, production started from Rimfaks. Oil from the area is sent to Gullfaks A, while the gas is sent to Gullfaks C.

On 18 March 1999, it was time for yet another milestone. Gullfaks Sør, Phase I was soon to be completed.

Production on Visund A began on 21 April 1999. The oil and gas are processed on the platform, after which the oil is sent to Gullfaks A and the gas to Kvitebjørn.

Until 27 May 1999, Saga Petroleum owned 6 percent of the Gullfaks licence. On that day, the company was dissolved. About 25 percent of the company – including the Gullfaks share – was acquired by Statoil.

From March 2001, Gullfaks C served as a gas hub in the Tampen area. The platform plays a key role in receiving and transporting gas from other fields and satellites.

On 26 April 2001, the Norwegian Parliament approved the partial privatization of Statoil. This led to changes in the Gullfaks licence.

In January 2005, the Gullfaks licence was awarded the Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) Prize. The prize is one of the clearest expressions of the Norwegian authorities’ appreciation of efforts to extend field life on a mature Norwegian continental shelf. What was the background for the prize in general, and for this award in particular?

What does a driller, crane operator, process engineer, and offshore installation manager actually do on a platform? And what do the geologist and the trader do onshore? The series "The oil kingdom" (2006) helped make everyday offshore life in general—and Gullfaks C in particular—better known to most Norwegians.

On 1 October 2007, Hydro’s oil and gas division was taken over by Statoil. The number of Gullfaks partners was reduced from three to two.

On December 11, 2007, offshore workers on Gullfaks (and other nearby platforms) could see extensive military activity at sea and in the air. At the center of it all was the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the Russian Navy’s flagship. Could Norwegian helicopters find themselves on a collision course with Russian fighter jets?

On 8 April 2008, production from Gulltopp finally started. The well has been described as the most complicated in Statoil’s history. The drilling crew spent 991 days reaching the target. The well is nearly ten kilometres long and runs almost entirely horizontally.

On 19 May 2010, the alarm went off on Gullfaks C. Gas was flowing uncontrollably on the drilling deck. “All hands to the lifeboats!”

On 4 December 2010, there was a gas leak on Gullfaks B. The incident is one of several reasons why 2010 is characterized as a challenging year for Statoil and the Gullfaks field.

On October 31, 2013, the Gullfaks license gained a new stakeholder: the Austrian oil company OMV acquired a 19% share.

On 2 June 2014, after 30 years in service, the old loading buoys were replaced by a new system.

In the summer of 2015, the world’s first subsea wet gas compression station was installed on the seabed near Gullfaks C. This marked another step toward realizing the ambitious “subsea factory” project.

On 29 April 2016, a helicopter carrying 13 people crashed just east of the island of Turøy, northwest of Bergen. The aircraft was en route from the Gullfaks B platform to Bergen Airport, Flesland. It was one of the worst accidents in Norwegian oil history.

The Gullfaks field’s three concrete platforms—especially the record‑heavy C installation—sit at the heart of a recurring question: should the Condeep gravity‑based substructures (GBSs) be given a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List?

On 5 June 2022, the first of the 11 Hywind Tampen turbines was towed out to the field. The turbines rise 190 metres above the sea and are anchored to the seabed—at depths of up to 300 metres—using 19 suction anchors. The turbines were assembled in Gulen Industrial Harbour in Sløvåg in Sogn og Fjordane.

Drones are used in a wide range of applications, from hobbyists taking vacation photos or videos, to infrastructure inspection in industry or modern warfare. Drones can also be used to transport items offshore.

Autumn 2022 was marked by a sharpened focus on the vulnerability of Norway’s energy‑strategic position in Europe.

On 13 June 2023, a milestone was reached. Well number 500 had been drilled in the Gullfaks area.

In the period between 2010 and 2020, parts of the oil from the Gimle field were recorded as Gullfaks oil. OMV took the matter to court to clarify what consequences the calculation error should have. The judgment was delivered on 29 June 2023. OMV won against Equinor.

Politically, the 11 Tampen turbines were highly welcome, and the opening on 23 August 2023 marked a major step for Norway as an offshore wind nation. A great deal of political prestige has been invested in the commitment to offshore wind.