The history of Fina Exploration Norway 1965; - 2000

1965
In the 1st licensing round Fina, as a participant in the Phillips Group together with Phillips and Agip, is awarded a major interest of 30% in the blocks 1/5, 2/4, 2/7 and 7/11 in the Ekofisk area.  

1968
The Phillips Group proves gas and condensate in the Cod structure in block 7/11.

1969
In the years 1969 to 1975 Fina is involved in exploration activities on Svalbard as the operator for a group of Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and German companies. The company drills three wells and invests a total of NOK 100 million.
The Ekofisk field is proven in August 1969 and confirmation to the effect that it is a major discovery comes on the night before Christmas Eve the same year.

1970
On 2 June the operator Phillips announces that the Ekofisk discovery in PL018* is gigantic.

1971
The Phillips Group submits a declaration of commerciality for the Ekofisk field.

1972
Phillips confirms the Edda discovery in block 2/4 in Southwest Ekofisk.

1973
The year 1973 can be characterised as an important year in Norway's oil history because the oil prices rose sharply after many years of stability. The Storting (Norwegian Parliament) follows the oil companies' recommendation and grants approval so that Ekofisk can transport oil and gas directly abroad instead of maintaining the principle of landing in Norway, i.e. oil to Teesside in England (1975) and gas to Emden in West Germany (1977). The transport system is called Norpipe.

1974
The first oil production from well A-13 on the 2/4 Ekofisk A platform begins on the first fixed installation in the Ekofisk area.

1975
The first crude is shipped through the pipeline to Teesside. On 25 October the Teesside terminal is officially opened.

1976
In the period 1976 to 1978 five wells are drilled in block 1/9. In 1985 the gas/condenstate field Tommeliten is declared commercial.
The Norwegian/British Frigg treaty is signed in May 1976.

1977
The gas terminal in Emden is officially opened on 8 September.
Production starts on Cod in PL018, block 7/11.

1978
Albuskjell 1/6A, Tor 2/4E and Albuskjell 2/4F start producing.

1979
Eldfisk A and B, 2/4 ETP and the Edda platforms start producing. The last production platform on the seven oil and gas fields in the Ekofisk area is thus on stream.

1980
The drilling rig "Alexander L. Kielland" capsizes near the Edda platform. 123 people lose their lives in the worst disaster in the history of Norway.

1982
At the end of 1982 there are 121 wells on stream on the Ekofisk fields. Operations on the Norwegian Shelf are managed by American Petrofina Exploration of Norway, which, in addition to managing Fina's ownership interests, owns interests in Norpipe A/S and Norsea Gas A/S.
Fina in Norway has a total of 166 employees.

1983
In consultation with the Norwegian authorities it is decided to implement a complete development of a water injection plant on block 2/4 in the Ekofisk area. Twenty injection wells are installed to increase the rate of recovery on the Ekofisk field.
Norske Fina A/S' sister company Fina Exploration Norway u.a.s. manages Fina's ownership interests.

1984
Operations on the Norwegian Shelf are managed by Fina Exploration Norway, a sister company of Norske Fina A/S. Production of crude from the seven fields in the Ekofisk area is landed through a pipeline from Ekofisk to Teesside in England. The gas is landed through a pipeline from Ekofisk to Emden. The company acquires more than 47,000 km of seismic data on the Norwegian Shelf for use in the coming licensing rounds. Measures against subsidence of the platforms in the Ekofisk area are planned.
Fina is still the operator for a group of Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and German companies on Svalbard.
Fina has participated in a number of research projects in collaboration with the Continental Shelf Institute (IKU), Rogaland Research (RF), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), SINTEF and the University of Oslo.
Norske Fina A/S celebrates its 25-year anniversary as a marketing company for oil products in Norway.
The number of employees in the exploration and production department in Stavanger is doubled from 10 to 20.

1985
Fina Exploration Norway has offices in Stavanger and Bekkestua in Bærum. At the end of the year there is a total of 46 employees in exploration and production. The exploration and production activities are managed in Stavanger.

1986
In 1986 the company accepts participating in the development of Tommeliten's two structures, Alfa and Gamma. The office in Stavanger continues to grow in 1986, with particular emphasis on strengthening the drilling and production department.
At the end of the year Fina Exploration Norway has 45 employees.

1987
Fina strongly supports new exploration ventures in the Greater Ekofisk area. The most important event on Ekofisk in the course of the year is the jack-up operation to prevent subsidence when the reservoirs are drained. The company conducts its own exclusive seismic surveys in interesting areas and achieves results of very high quality through close collaboration with the contractor Geco A/S.
The BECTOS project at the Department of Zoology, University of Trondheim, has been ongoing for three years. The company signs an agreement with GEOLABNOR (Geochemical Laboratories of Norway A/S) for development of an advanced geochemical instrument called "Geofina Hydrocarbonmeter". The instrument is to be used on drilling rigs for analyses of indications of hydrocarbons during drilling. A test run on well 2/7-20 provides positive results. Fina supports the sloop "Anna af Sand", owned by Stavanger Maritime Museum, so that it can sail to Antwerp in connection with a major Norwegian-Belgian event. The company also supports the North Sea Society, which is the organiser.
Development of the exploration and production department is completed in 1987, having a staff of 50.

1988
Following extensive negotiations with Norwegian authorities in the spring of 1988, the company is awarded an operatorship of the block 24/9 in July for the first time on the Norwegian Shelf. A contract is signed with Peconor for construction of a circular barrier wall around the Ekofisk tank.
The Tommeliten field is commissioned and begins production in late autumn. Norwegian authorities have implemented a restriction on Norwegian crude production this year as well. This means that Fina's oil production level is held back by 7.5%.
The exploration and production department in Stavanger has 46 employees.
Fina participates in Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) for the first time.
The company signs a cooperation agreement with SINTEF in Trondheim, AKVAFORSK, the University of Ghent and the sister company Artemia Systems for the development of methods for production of halibut fry. Projects in geo-disciplines and reservoir technology are implemented and managed by the Stavanger office.
Fina's heart fund supports a centre for cardio-medical research in a separate building at Rogaland Central Hospital, which is completed in 1988.

1989
Installation of the concrete wall around the Ekofisk tank for protection during extreme weather conditions is completed in 1989. The extensive programme for measures against subsidence of the seabed at the Ekofisk centre has thus been completed.
Industrial collaboration begins with the Trondheim company Seatex and originated in a research and development project with Det Norske Veritas on the effects of current conditions on the seabed.

1990
Fina Exploration Norway u.a.s. is a branch of Fina Exploration Norway Incorporated in Dallas. The company is 100% owned by American Petrofina Exploration in Dallas. Fina establishes a Fina professorship in petroleum economy and administration at the Norwegian School of Management (BI), as a contribution to national research in the field. The professorship is the only one of its kind in Norway and is held by Professor Øystein Noreng.
The company participates in a crisis organisation for handling accidents, including accidents caused by pollution of the environment. The crisis organisation is developed in Norway as part of the Petrofina group's global organisation. Fina continues supporting culture in Norway and Norwegian-Belgian constellations, including the conclusion of the Belgica exhibition in Tromsø. The topic is: "First all-year expedition to the Antarctic under Beligian leadership with a Norwegian-built ship and with Roald Amundsen as a participant for the first time in the Antarctic". The exhibition started in Antwerp in 1988.
There are 58 employees in Fina Exploration Norway u.a.s.

1991
Fina conducts exploration drilling as the operator of PL150, block 24/9. Oil is proven in well 24/9-4, but the finding is not sufficient to conduct a production test.
The company also supports the Ultima Foundation, which is the organiser of an international festival for contemporary music in Oslo.
There are 55 employees in Fina Exploration Norway u.a.s. 

1992
The Norwegian business department Fina Exploration Norway u.a.s. changes its name to Fina Exploration Norway Incorporated (FENI) on 18 February. The name change does not lead to any changes in ownership or organisation. Development of the Embla field is underway as planned with expected production start-up in the spring of 1993.
There are 56 employees in Fina Exploration Norway (FENI).

1993
The Embla field is brought on stream in May. At the end of the year production is at 30,000 barrels of oil per day. Drilling of exploration well 24/9-5 begins in December. This is the second and last well. 

1995
Fina is awarded an interest of 30% outside of the round in PL018B, block 1/6, part of Albuskjell.

1996
In the 15th licensing round Fina receives an interest of 15% in PL219, block 6710/6.

1998
Four satellite fields in the Ekofisk area, Cod, Albuskjell, West Ekofisk and Edda, are closed down in August. At the end of the year TOTAL and Fina have a total of 145 employees in Norway, but after the merger and optimisation process has been completed 95 employees remains.

1999
Fina's interest in Ekofisk is reduced to 28.5% in accordance with the Ekofisk II plan. The plan includes further development of Ekofisk, compensated with 5% to the State's Direct Financial Interest (SDFI), removal of royalty and extension of the licence period from 2011 to 2028.
The disposal plan for Ekofisk I is sent to the Norwegian authorities in October. The plan includes cessation of 13 platforms in the Ekofisk area and two auxiliary platforms in connection with the oil pipeline to Teesside.

The TOTAL Group merges with FINA on 1 July.
On 5 July, the new TOTALFINA Group presents a take-over bid for Elf Aquitaine SA. During the course of the autumn, TOTALFINA purchases 95% of the shares in Elf.
There are still three separate legal units in Norway in 1999: TOTAL Norge A.S, Fina Exploration Norway S.A and Elf Petroleum Norge AS. 

2000
The merger between TOTALFINA and Elf is approved by the EU Commission on 9 February. TOTALFINAELF SA becomes at the time the world's fourth largest oil company.
In accordance with the ongoing integration process within the TOTALFINAELF Group, it is decided that Elf Petroleum Norge AS changes its name to TotalFinaElf Exploration Norge AS. Under this new name the company, from the 1 October, acts on behalf of TOTAL Norge A.S and Fina Exploration Norway S.A in Norway.
TOTAL Norge A.S takes over Fina's licence interests in Norway in PL018, PL018B, PL044, PL110, PL127, PL150 and PL219 as of 20 December.

*) Production Licence