Same level as in 1996

Norway's combined oil investments next year are estimated at NOK 33.1 billion in the investment census for the second quarter of this year. The first estimate for 1997 is thus NOK 100 million higher than the corresponding estimate for 1996.

There is, however, wide variation in the differences between the first estimates for 1996 and 1997 when it comes to the individual investment areas. The estimated investments in operating fields and pipelines in 1997 have been registered at respectively NOK 7.9 and 4.5 billion in the second quarter of this year. This is respectively NOK 2.2 and 1.7 billion higher than the corresponding figures for 1996.

Oil investments in 1996

This year's second quarter estimates on combined oil investments for 1996 total NOK 47.9 billion. This is NOK 500 million lower than the estimate for 1995 from the second quarter of last year. The final figure for oil investments in 1995 was, however, almost unchanged from the estimate for 1995 from the second quarter of last year. This could indicate that investments in 1996 may be higher than in 1995, since a possible decision on the development of the Åsgård field and new pipelines may provide a positive contribution to the 1996 estimate through the three last censuses for 1996. The Varg field, which has now been approved for development, will be included in the census carried out in the third quarter of this year.

Investment statistics, oil activity, 2nd quarter 1996.

Statistics are published every quarter in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics and Official Statistics of Norway (NOS) Oil and Gas Activity. More information: Lise Dalen, tel. 2+47 21 09 47 68, e-mail: lid@ssb.no.

Weekly Bulletin is. 23, 1996