Mar. 2013 - RWE and the partners in PL435 have made a decision regarding the development concept for the Zidane field. The concept chosen involves use of a 4-slot subsea template with 4 production wells tied back to the Heidrun TLP via a 9-mile insulated flowline. Additionally, a new gas treatment and export module will be installed on the TLP. Zidane is estimated to hold up to 776 Bcf of recoverable natural gas.

Sep. 2012 - Statoil, on behalf of the Heidrun parners, has issued a letter of intent to Samsung Heavy Industries for the construction of a new permanent floating storage unit (FSU). The contract is estimated at $230 million and includes options for two additional units. The FSU will replace the aging buoy loading system currently in operation at the field. A design life of 30 years should allow production at Heidrun to be maintained through 2045. Construction will take place at the Samsung yard in Geoje Island, Republic of Korea.

Apr. 2012 - The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate reported that a gas discovery of up to 13 Bcm of recoverable gas has been made near the Heidrun field through well 6507/7-15 S in the Norwegian Sea. The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Fangst group. The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Early Cretaceous Age in the Lange formation and Early Jurassic Age in the Tilje formation. The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out which will provide valuable information for future production of the gas discoveries in the production license. The West Alpha (MW semisub) performed the drilling operations in a water depth of 1,300 feet (399 meters). The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Sep. 2010 - RWE Dea Norge AS made a gas discovery in exploratory well 6507/7-14S on the Zidane prospect. The well's primary objective, located in Production License 435, was to prove hydrocarbons in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Fangst group. The secondary objective was to prove hydrocarbons in Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Tilje formation. Drilled to a vertical depth of 14,688 feet (4,477 meters), the well encountered gas in a 492-foot (150-meter) column in the Fangst group. Preliminary estimates of the size of the discovery range between 5 and 18 Bcm of recoverable gas. Data and sampling were gathered, and a drill stem test was produced. The well, the first drilled in PL 435, will now be plugged and abandoned. RWE Dea is the operator of PL 435, holding a 40% interest; Norwegian Energy Company (Noreco) holds 20%; Wintershall Norge holds 20%; and Edison International holds the remaining 20% interest.

Sep. 2009 - StatoilHydro was granted consent to use the Aker Spitsbergen semisubmersible at the Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea. The consent applies to production drilling, completion, well interventions, well clean-up and well testing. The start-up is scheduled for the beginning of October. The consent is valid until the end of August 2014. Heidrun is located on Blocks 6507/7 and 6507/8 on Haltenbanken in the Norwegian North Sea in a water depth of 1,148 feet (350 meters).

Jun. 2009 - StatoilHydro was granted consent to use the Deepsea Bergen semisub for production drilling on the Heidrun field. Activities include plugging and abandoning, drilling, well completion and well interventions. Two well activities are planned on the Heidrun field in 2009, and the activity will continue in 2010.

Apr. 2009 - StatoilHydro awarded Aker Solutions an engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract worth $59 million (NOK 390 million) to facilitate increased gas capacity production at Heidrun's production pipeline. The contract covers upgrades of the existing gas turbine and compressors, which should increase the gas capacity to 247 MMcf/d (7.1 MMcm/d).

Dec. 2008 - FMC Technologies has been awarded a contract from StatoilHydro for the manufacture and supply of additional subsea equipment for its Heidrun North project, located in the Norwegian Sea. This contract, valued at approximately $45 million in revenue, is a call-off from a previously announced frame agreement signed in 2007 with FMC Technologies.