The Frigg Field
The Frigg Field was the world's largest and deepest offshore gas field when discovered in 1971.
It straddled both the Norwegian and British sectors of the North Sea and developing it led to many innovations.
Before exploration licences were granted by Norway in 1969 and the UK in 1970, geologists suspected that there was
a large gas field in the area. They were proved right in the summer of 1971 when drilling discovered what was then
the largest offshore gas field.
The shape of the field led to its nickname, the 'Chinese Butterfly'. Further investigation revealed that 39% of the gas
reserves lay on the British side, 61% on the Norwegian. The British and Norwegian companies involved agreed to
develop and manage the field as a single entity. The field was operated by Total E&P Norge, Stavanger, Norway.
Innovative methods and designs had to be developed in response to the challenges of exploiting what was then
the deepest offshore gas field in the notoriously bad weather of the northern North Sea. At its peak, 1800 men were
working on the construction of the five installations in the Frigg Field. There were two platforms on the Norwegian side
and three on the British side of the border. On the UK side was an accommodation platform for 120 people, a treatment
platform and a drilling platform, while the Norwegian side had a drilling platform and a treatment platform. Bridges
connected three of the platforms.
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