“The Royal Ministry of Industry and Crafts receive APPLICATIONS permission for the exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources on the Norwegian continental shelf.”
Adventure often begin with “once upon a time”, either a king or a boy sitting and rotate in the ashes. The Norwegian oil adventure begins with that there was a
royal ministry announced exploration permits. But otherwise follows the adventure a fixed pattern. After many setbacks can Ashlad finally say “I found it, I found”. Princess and half the kingdom is only trifles, against the 11.000 billion crowns 2013 GDP is supplied from the North Sea.
Oldies hope
The dream of riches in the ocean is old. In the book The first Attempt paa Natural History of Norway from 1753 wrote Bishop Erich Pontoppidan about “North Soen Obesity” and believed that: “It is venteligt that sea , Just like the paa Earth, pour himself here and there nogle rinds Olie-Bække or flow of Petreoleo … “
The idea was, in other words not new when geologists began with seismic surveys in the 1950s century. But in 1958 concluded the Geological Surveys:
“One can disregard the possibility that coal, oil or sulfur on the continental shelf along the Norwegian coast.”
The conclusion has become recognized as one of Norway’s worst predictions.
So it was surprising when Phillips Petroleum Company made contact with the government in 1962. The US giant offered to explore for oil in the North Sea. The price to take such a big risk, was that they should have a monopoly on the Norwegian shelf. Instead of biting the bait, the government began to think about how it should work out.
Wise politicians
– It was visionary politicians who made sensible grip, says Lien today.
– You must not forget that Norwegian politicians had 80 years of experience in managing energy resources for the public good.
For 100 years ago was right to monetize the country’s surging the great controversy theme in Norwegian politics. Politicians had to restrain capitalists who would monetize resource forever. Instead they were given clear time limits on their rights.
Lien sees laws that facilitated the recovery, as a natural continuation of this “concession controversy.”
– There should be a privilege making money on the Norwegian shelf, he says and adds that one has to pay much tax to be so privileged.
– The values belongs to the people. Meanwhile we have found principles that make it worthwhile for those who take risks.
He sees that it may seem strange with a politician minister who praises a strong state and a high tax level. Therefore hurrying himself to emphasize that the oil sector is very special.
Relax discussion
Industry Minister Karl Trasti relax debate in 1965. To open North Sea oil companies was not a matter for Parliament, not even something the rest of government let up in. It’s quite a different situation than the Tord Lien meetings if he will open new fields.
At the first exploration rigs were in place in the North Sea in 1966 attracted much attention . Not that they only found empty hole either. Oil exploration and extraction is for long term investors and patient politicians. It must be invested enormous sums, to recover an asset price fluctuations.
– The industry has always been cyclical. The general rule has been that the authorities must have ice in the stomach, says Lien.
It also applies when oil prices fall from well over 100 to below $ 60 a barrel. Lien sees no reason to be pessimistic in the long term, and expects that oil and gas will be important for many decades to.
– Not in any way, answer the question whether he fears that the adventure goes towards the end.
He homework up new discoveries and old findings that could be better utilized with new technology. Even Ekofisk, the first Norwegian field, can produce in 40 years. As northerner he hopes that own region also may enjoy the blessings of resources.
Good climate
Fear of climate change he sees nor as an argument for leaving the oil under the sea.
– It is on the border of naive, he starts the answer.
– The world’s energy increases from day to day. There are fewer and fewer poor people, therefore increasing energy demand. And Europe is totally dependent on us, they get 20 percent of its gas from us. For us oil and gas needed when we will finance the welfare state.
– But climate?
– We have the strictest requirements for health, safety and environment in the world. Had the rest of the world asked the same environmental requirements would we reached two-degree target.
Future
With lower oil industry must both cut staff and streamline operations. Lien is not too worried about those who lose their job, everything indicates that their expertise is in demand elsewhere.
But he is concerned that it must be educated new professionals, both engineers and skilled workers. Not least, the youth understand the usefulness of science.
Back to Start
Oslo People must be prouder of oil its environment, says minister.
Tord Lien sitting outside restaurants at Aker Brygge, threw out his arms and said:
– Here began the Norwegian oil adventure!
– To begin with, it was foreign technology. But it was not long before we had some of the best research communities, says the Minister.
The country’s first oil rigs built by Aker, Aker Mek and on the other side of Oslo, at Nyland Mek.
– But the oil industry did not disappear from Oslo and Akershus, said Lien.
– 40,000 jobs in the two counties are directly linked to oil. In addition, anyone who indirectly contribute, financiers and lawyers.
Many of the latter still holds to what once was the production halls at Akers Mek.
Early Bird
According to Dag Solstad’s novel about Aker, “front of the medal” appeared oil up in the company’s annals in 1964. Few years after the building now the first platform, it happened at Nyland Mek. The platform called Ocean Viking was built for Americans. Meanwhile ran Aker Mek with rebuilding of a factory ship to drillships. Director General Martin Siem told later reproduced in Solstad’t book: “The Norwegian companies had no specific qualifications to assess whether these new measures would develop into profitable enterprises in the future.” But he saw that some of the world’s largest and most efficient firms would invest in the North Sea, and took a chance that they knew what they were doing.
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