The first ground has been broken for the giant Ormen Lange project. By autumn 2007, gas from this field was boiling the water for 10 million cups of tea in the UK every morning. Ormen Lange will be capable of supplying 20% of the UK's gas consumption for up to 40 years.
Sperre AS has carried out large-scale archgaeological excavations in connection with the project. This is the first time that excavations have been carried out at such great depths using this method.
The process plant for the Ormen Lange field will be at Nyhamna in the municipality of Aukra in the County of Møre og Romsdal. The field itself lies 120 km offshore. The field is in a subsea depression left by the Storegga avalanche 8000 years ago. The wells lie under 1000 m of water.
Sperre AS manufactured the equipment needed for the comprehensive programme of excavations and salvage to be carried out. The excavations were led by NTNU's Museum of Natural History and Archaeology.