Oct. 2012 - The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy granted approval to Lundin Petroleum for the Plan of Development and Operation of the Boyla field in PL 340 offshore Norway. Estimated gross reserves are roughly 21Mmboe with gross peak production of 19,000 Boepd. Boyla will be developed via a subsea tie-back to the Alvheim FPSO. Technip was awarded the field development contract and will handle construction and installation of the subsea equipment.

Oct. 2012 - Consent has been granted by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) allowing Marathon Oil to assume operatorship of the Vilje field in block 25/4 of production license 036D. Vilje has been developed via two subsea wells connected to the Alvheim FPSO. Marathon is now the operator of three producing fields offshore Norway. Partners in the field consist of Statoil with a 28.8% stake and a 25.2%-stake for Total. Additionally, the partners have decided to develop Vilje South through a single development well and standard subsea template.

Oct. 2012 - Consent has been granted by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) allowing Marathon Oil to assume operatorship of the Vilje field in block 25/4 of production license 036D. Vilje has been developed via two subsea wells connected to the Alvheim FPSO. Marathon is now the operator of three producing fields offshore Norway. Partners in the field consist of Statoil with a 28.8% stake and a 25.2%-stake for Total. Additionally, the partners have decided to develop Vilje South through a single development well and standard subsea template.

Jul. 2012 - Marathon has awarded Technip a contract to work on the ongoing expansion of the subsea drill centers at Kneler B and Volund in the Alvheim area of the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The contract includes engineering, fabrication, installation and diving tie-ins of pipeline spools, including protection covers and installation of a manifold. The offshore construction work will take place in 2012 and 2013.

Jun. 2012 - Technip won a contract for the development of the Boyla field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The $381 million deal with Marathon covers all activities necessary to complete the construction of the subsea system for the field development and connect it to the existing Alvheim subsea facilities. Offshore construction will take place in 2014. The field is to be developed as a subsea tie-back to the Alvheim FPSO, with two production wells and a water injection well. The Boyla field is estimated to hold reserves of 23 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Jun. 2012 - Bridge Energy has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire a 1.55 percent working interest in the producing Boa field from OMV Limited for a consideration of $18.1 million. The interest will add production of 250 bopd to Bridge. The unitized field extends across the UK/Norway median line and lies 88.65 percent in Norway Block 24/6 and 11.35 percent in UK Blocks 9/15a and 9/15b. The field was developed in 2008 as part of the wider Alvheim area development with three subsea development wells tied-back to the Alvheim FPSO operated by Marathon. Oil from Boa is shipped by shuttle tanker while gas is exported into the UK market via the Beryl SAGE system. The field is expected to produce until 2022.

Jun. 2012 - Marathon and partners have submitted a plan for development and operation (PDO) of the Boyla field (formerly Marihone) to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. The Boyla development is expected to begin production during the fourth quarter of 2014. The field will be developed as a subsea tie-back to the Alvheim floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) with two production wells and a water injection well being drilled. The total investment is estimated to be $867 million with reserves estimated at 23 million barrels of oil equivalents. Boyla crude oil will be commingled with the Alvheim blend and exported via shuttle tankers. Associated gas will be exported via Alvheim to the SAGE pipeline.

May. 2012 - Statoil has transferred operatorship of the Vilje field in the North Sea to Marathon Oil. The agreement does not involve any change of stakes in Production License 036D.

Apr. 2012 - Marathon expects to submit a plan of development for the Boyla field subsea tie-back to the Alvheim FPSO in the first half of 2012. First oil is expected in 2014.

Jan. 2012 - Technip received two contracts for the Vilje South and Visund North developments in the North Sea in water depths of 394 and 1,263 feet (120 and 385 meters). These contracts cover welding and installation of a 6-mile-long (10-kilometer-long) production flowline; subsea equipment installation and tie-ins; and umbilical installation and tie-ins. Installation will occur in mid-2013.

Jan. 2012 - Marathon awarded Aker Solutions a contract to supply a subsea production system for the Boyla (formerly Marihone) development in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The scope of work includes engineering, procurement, construction and delivery of four subsea trees, four over-trawlable subsea structures and control systems. Final deliveries will be made in 1Q 2013. The Boyla field, located in Production License 340 in 394 feet (120 meters) of water, will be subsea tied-back to the Alvheim FPSO. Marathon operates the project with a 65 percent interest; while ConocoPhillips holds 20 percent; and Lundin holds 15 percent.

Dec. 2011 - Statoil awarded Aker Solutions a contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of a subsea production system for the Vilje South project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The scope of work includes a subsea tree, satellite production flowbase and protection structure, subsea production control system, wellhead system, remote connection system and a 492-foot (150-meter) static umbilical. Final deliveries will be made in 2Q13. Statoil operates the field with a 28.5 percent; while Marathon holds 49.9 percent; and Total holds the remaining 24.2 percent.

Nov. 2011 - Statoil plans to fast-track its Vilje South satellite field, which is the third producer in the Vilje development. It is intended that this development will secure optimum drainage of its resources. The development compromises a standard subsea template with a single well, connecting to Marathon’s Alvheim field via a 12 miles (19-kilometer) flowline and umbilical. The subsea template is currently being constructed by Aker for installation in 2013, together with the rest of the subsea equipment. Statoil plans to conduct drilling work in two stages, starting in 2013 with completion that same year. The field is slated to commence production in 2013. Recoverable reserves in Vilje South are estimated at 7.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, mainly in the form of crude. Statoil operates the field with a 28.5 percent; while Marathon holds 49.9 percent; and Total holds the remaining 24.2 percent.

May. 2011 - Lundin Petroleum reported that production was halted from the Alvheim field and the Volund field, offshore Norway. The fields were shut down for 13 days in May due to unscheduled maintenance on the Alvheim FPSO. Following preventative maintenance work on the vessel's fire prevention system, the fields have recommenced production. Marathon holds a 65% interest in the Alvheim field and serves as the operator. Norske ConocoPhillips AS has a 20% working interest and Lundin Norway AS has the remaining 15% interest.

Oct. 2010 - Marathon received consent to use the Songa Dee semisub for production drilling on the Alvheim field. During the first quarter of 2010, Marathon received consent to drill and complete three oil producing wells, 24/6-B-4, 25/4-L-1, and 25/4-L-2, on Alvheim, and this new consent is an expansion and applies to well 25/4-L-3. The water depth at the site is 404 feet (123 meters). The Alvheim field is located on Production License 203 and extends into neighboring PL088 and PL036. The field is situated on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, west of Haugesund and close to the UK border in a water depth of 125 meters (410 feet). Marathon holds a 65% interest in the Alvheim field and serves as the operator. Norske ConocoPhillips AS has a 20% working interest, and Lundin Norway AS has the remaining 15% interest.

Jun. 2010 - The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway gave consent to Marathon Petroleum Norge AS to carry out manned underwater operations on the Volund and Alvheim fields in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The consent relates to carrying out manned underwater operations in 2010, and also includes well work, necessary inspections, repairs and maintenance on both fields.

Apr. 2010 - Marathon received approval to use the Songa Dee semisub to conduct production drilling on the Alvheim field. The consent relates to the drilling of wells 24/6-B-4, 25/4-L-1 and 25/4-L-2 in PL 203, which will constitute phase II of the drilling program for the oil and gas field. Drilling operations are scheduled to start in May 2010 and last for roughly 300 days. Alvheim, located in a water depth of 410 feet (125 meters) in the Norwegian North Sea, is operated by Marathon, holding a 65% interest.

Oct. 2009 - Marathon Petroleum was granted consent to carry out exploration drilling in the northern North Sea with the Songa Dee, a 3rd generation, midwater semisubmersible. The consent is an amendment of our previous consent to drill exploration well 24/9-9 S and applies to the drilling of sidetrack well 24/9-9 B.

Oct. 2009 - Marathon has secured consent to use the Songa Dee, a 3rd generation, midwater semisubmersible, for production drilling on the Volund field for Phase 1B of field development. The Volund oil field lies in the northern North Sea, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Alvheim in Block 24/9. The field is part of PL 150, and the licensees are Marathon (operator) and Lundin Norway AS.

Sep. 2009 - Marathon Oil announced that the Volund development offshore Norway has achieved first production. Volund is the second tie-back to the Alvheim FPSO, following Vilje; and it firmly establishes the FPSO as a new oil processing hub in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Volund field is expected to reach a peak oil production of approximately 25,000 bopd, the timing of which is subject to available processing capacity on the Alvheim FPSO.

Sep. 2009 - Marathon Petroleum was granted consent to carry out exploration drilling in the northern North Sea with the Songa Dee semisub on the Marihone field. The consent applies to drilling of exploration well 24/9-9 S, which is part of PL 340. The well has the following geographical coordinates: N 59 degrees 19' 40.414", E 01 degrees 50' 17.110". The water depth at the site is 394 feet (120 meters). The drilling is scheduled to start in September/October 2009. The activity has an estimated duration of 36-53 days.

Sep. 2009 - Once its service agreement with AP Moller-Maersk A/S is terminated, Marathon will assume management of operations and staffing at the Alvheim field, according to a report by Dow Jones Newswires. Marathon intends to directly staff and operate the floating production storage and offtake vessel at Alvheim from the second half of 2010, the report noted. Operated by Marathon with a 65% interest, Alvheim commenced production in June 2008, and output has stabilized at 140,000 boepd, or over its designed capacity of 120,000 boepd.

Jul. 2009 - Marathon was granted consent to start-up and operate the installations on the Volund field. The Volund oil field is located in the North Sea about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Alvheim on Block 24/9. The field was developed with four subsea wells (three for production and one for injection), tied-in to Alvheim FPSO. According to Marathon, the wells will produce between 20,000 and 40,000 bopd.

Aug. 2008 - MCS was awarded a significant subsea contract from Acergy to perform detailed upheaval buckling analysis of a water injection flowline located in the Volund Field, offshore Norway.

Aug. 2008 - StatoilHydro says that first oil flowed from the Vilje field to the Alvheim FPSO today, August 1, 2008. The Vilje field is located in the northern part of the North Sea, north of the Heimdal field.

Jun. 2008 - StatoilHydro has received consent to use installations on the Vilje field, a small oil field located in the northern part of the North Sea, immediately north of the Heimdal field. The consent applies to start-up and operation of Vilje satellite wells and associated pipelines between the wells and FPSO Alvheim (see map), operated by Marathon Petroleum Company Norway.

Jun. 2008 - Aker Solutions has been awarded a contract to deliver additional subsea well sets for phase two of the Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) led Alvheim development on the Norwegian continental shelf. The contract is worth approximately GBP 18 million.

Jun. 2008 - Marathon Oil Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, announced with its partners that the Alvheim development offshore Norway has achieved first production. The Company expects the combined Alvheim and Vilje projects to reach peak net production of approximately 75,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day by early 2009.

Mar. 2007 - The tight market for oil services equipment and personnel on the Norwegian continental shelf was a key contributor in the delayed startup of Marathon Norway's (MRO) 120,000 barrel-a-day Alvheim oil development, managing director Roger Wilson said Thursday.