Kalmar Ildstad, Norwegian Offshore Directorate

Director of regulations, licence and area management. He was hired in 1989 and has held multiple management positions since 2006, including within development and operations, data management and competence development. He has served as director of the licence management department since 2021. Kalmar holds a Master of Science in Engineering from the physics department at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (now part of NTNU).

Michael Zechner, Harbour Energy

Michael Zechner is Managing Director of Harbour Energy in Norway. Originally a geoscientist, he has worked in the E&P industry in different roles in Germany, Argentina and Norway. Since 2022 he has been in Norway as managing director, first for the legacy company and then continuing in the same role for Harbour Energy.  

Øyvind Koldal, Orlen

Bio: Øyvind has 20+ years of experience within the Oil and Gas industry since starting as Drilling Service Engineer in Schlumberger in 2002. Currently employed in Orlen Upstream Norway as Principal Facility & Project Engineer. The work scope covers from early phase concept evaluations and up to detailed root-cause-analysis as required. He is a jack-of-all-trades having a strong multi-discipline engineering background and enjoy working with overall system functionality and seeking the best concepts within the assigned frames without compromising on the safety aspects. His main domain is within subsea engineering, but skills overlap both upstream wells to downstream topsides.

Abstract: Early phase engineering is about building value, while project execution is more about prevent value destruction. Trying to unlock "stranded resources" requires that the industry does something different, particularly in the project's early phases. By definition doing the same over and over again will result in the same outcome, this consequently prevent projects being executed as there is no value improvement. One factor preventing conceptual changes is cost driving functional and/or technical requirements treated as the "law", and there is no willingness to challenge the foundation (which may not be present) supporting these. The presentation will present some generic examples, from the perspective of the SURF discipline, related to the impact when engineers select not to challenge cost driving functional requirements, "aka. stay on the road of comfort and least resistance", neither within own discipline or at inter-discipline level.

Per Gerhard Grini, Equinor


Bio: Per Gerhard Grini is Senior Manager for a Strategic Technology Project on Subsea Tiebacks in Equinor’s Technology Digital & Innovation (TDI) organization, and is located in Trondheim, Norway. The project will provide a technology base to realize the gradual increase towards Equinor production of 400 kbbl/d from ILX/ marginal discoveries in 2035. Per Gerhard holds a master’s in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in Thermodynamics from the University of Trondheim, Norway (NTNU).  He has more than 35 years of experience in our industry, and held various leadership positions within Statoil/Equinor, as well as in national collaboration initiatives such as OG21 and the Research Council of Norway.

Abstract: The many prospects and discoveries of small resources at NCS need significant cost reductions to be developed as tieback reserves to existing processing hosts. Technologies will play a key role in reaching this cost reduction. But a totally new mindset is needed as we must ask ourselves; What can be radically simplified  - and what can we do without? Presentation will focus on opportunities under maturation in Equinor.

Daniel Forder, ConocoPhillips

Bio: Daniel has 20 years of industry experience, primarily in Field Development. A geoscientist by background, he graduated from Imperial College London in 2005 with an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience. His career has been spent working the North Sea in both the UK and Norwegian sectors, with the last 15 years with ConocoPhillips. In recent years he has been involved with several of the Greater Ekofisk Area development projects, including the Tommeliten A.

Abstract: The PL044 Tommeliten Alpha gas condensate discovery, made in 1977, faced decades of development challenges due to subsurface uncertainty and limited tie-in options. Building on earlier initiatives to realize its potential, the field was successfully brought on stream in 2023. This talk will trace the asset’s journey from discovery to production, highlighting the key hurdles, decision points, and strategies that ultimately enabled its development.

Wayne Oxborough, AkerBP

Bio: Advanced Geophysicist at Aker BP specializes in seismic interpretation and uncertainty reduction for field development. He has contributed to Valhall and Hod projects via seismic interpretation, integrating geologic understanding to ensure robust, cost-effective well and projects concepts that optimize reservoir understanding and minimize risk.

Abstract: Hod was redeveloped by Aker BP from 2017 to first oil in 2022, boosting Valhall output. Rigorous subsurface evaluation using new seismic and an appraisal well reduced uncertainty and enabled an optimized concept, supported by a proven VFW NUI design to minimize cost and risk. Lessons from Valhall and new technologies ensured a robust, cost-effective redevelopment that maximized value.

Håvard Morset, Okea

Abstract: This presentation shares practical lessons from OKEA’s recent early-phase projects, including Hasselmus, Bestla and Galtvort. These fields were previously considered uneconomic, but through simple concepts, fast iterations and supplier involvement, they became viable developments. The talk highlights what actually worked in practice—how we structured concept development, how we challenged cost drivers, and how cross-discipline collaboration accelerated progress. The aim is to offer concrete takeaways that others can apply in their own marginal field work.

Ørjan Tveteraas, AkerBP

Bio: Subsurface Manager at Aker BP, leads reservoir development for Hugin Fulla Subsea. He brings expertise in reservoir management, well integrity, and project optimization. Ørjan has driven uncertainty reduction and cost-efficient concepts in projects like Tambar Artificial Lift and Ærfugl through advanced subsurface evaluation and technology integration.

Abstract: The Yggdrasil project integrates nine fields to reduce risk and capture synergies across the value chain. An uncertainty-driven reservoir modelling workflow and robust technical concepts optimize limited data and avoid costly appraisal drilling, while leveraging infrastructure enables tie-ins like Øst Frigg. Advanced technologies—quad-lateral wells, smart completions, and inflow control—unlock stranded resources and boost production.

Raghavendra Kulkarni, Equinor

Abstract: Presentation of the TEX initiative which has objective to reduce cost of marginal field development and reduce time between discovery and first production.

Vedad Hadziavdic, Harbour Energy

Bio: Vedad Hadziavdic is Senior Project Manager in Harbour Energy. He has worked on Maria Phase 2 – further development of the Maria field with new drainage strategy subsea installations and wells, for the past five years. He joined Harbour Energy in 2014 and has worked as geophysicist and subsurface manager prior taking the current position. He has PhD in statistical physics.

Abstract: Successfully achieving First Oil on time, budget and without any significant incidents, the Maria Phase 2 project offers valuable insights into marginal field development. The project's small reserve size (27Mboe) created challenges common to the industry. We will discuss the key decisions and strategies—from subsurface and subsea solutions to contracting and commercial approaches—that were essential for reaching a Final Investment Decision and ensuring the project’s successful execution.