Vår Energi is pushing ahead with its Goliat Gas Export Project in the Barents Sea, awarding a major subsea contract as the Norwegian operator works to unlock additional oil production from one of the Arctic’s most significant offshore fields.
Subsea7 has been selected to carry out engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of a 12.7-kilometre, 10-inch, uninsulated carbon steel pipeline, along with the subsea infrastructure needed to connect the new gas export system.
The contract is valued between $150 million and $300 million, with project management and engineering work beginning immediately from Stavanger, Norway. Offshore operations are expected to commence between 2027 and 2028.
The Goliat field currently reinjects produced gas back into the reservoir, a common practice used to maintain reservoir pressure, but one that limits long-term hydrocarbon recovery.
The gas export project is designed to change that, creating a dedicated export route that will allow gas to be brought to the surface and sold, while improving reservoir management and ultimately boosting oil production.
Once extracted, gas from Goliat will be transported to the Hammerfest LNG facility on Melkøya via the existing 143-kilometre Snøhvit pipeline system.
Vår Energi, which operates the Goliat licence (PL229) with a 65 per cent interest alongside partner Equinor at 35 per cent, filed a revised plan for development and operation (PDO) with the Norwegian Ministry of Energy last month.
The submission marks a significant regulatory step forward for a project that has been building momentum through early-stage collaboration between the key parties involved.
The EPCI award to Subsea7 falls under a broader strategic partnership agreement signed in late March 2026 between Vår Energi, Subsea7, and OneSubsea, a framework intended to streamline contracting and foster closer technical alignment from the earliest stages of project development.
Subsea7 Norway vice president Erik Femsteinevik said the award reflects the strength of that early engagement.
“We are proud to be awarded the Goliat Gas Export Project, which represents the first contract awarded under our new strategic partnership agreement with Vår Energi,” said Femsteinevik.
“This is an important milestone that demonstrates the strong foundation of trust and collaboration already established between our organisations.
“Together, we share a clear commitment to early engagement, predictable delivery, and safe, efficient execution.
“Working closely from the outset places us in a strong position to create value and deliver a high-quality solution for this important development.”
Goliat has long been one of the most closely watched fields in the Barents Sea. Bringing gas export capability online represents the next chapter in extending the field’s productive life and extracting greater value from existing infrastructure.
With the PDO submitted and contracts now moving, the Goliat Gas Export Project is on track to become a meaningful contributor to Norway’s broader Arctic production strategy before the end of the decade.
