The UK’s natural gas imports from Norway are forecast to increase up to 15% year on year this winter. In the months from October to March, the UK will likely import between 60-136 mcm per day of gas from Norway. At the high end of this range, imports would be up 18 mcm per day in the same period a year earlier. Imports of Dutch and Belgian gas are also projected to increase amid predictions that flows from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) may fall by 4% this year to as low as 70 mcm per day.

“There are no easy buttons to push. It’s not simply about the oil price, the Paris Agreement or the still incomplete single market. It’s about the interdependencies and how these factors amplify each other. At the end of the day, economic as well as social and ecological interests must be in balance with supply security in Europe.”

The decline is a result of a combination of simpler development concepts and more efficient drilling. Lower prices for work and equipment are also a contributing factor.

The sector, which accounts for 20 percent of the Nordic country's economy, has been slashing jobs, costs and projects to cope with a 60 percent fall in oil prices since June 2014.

Commenting today, Per Wullf, CEO and President of Seadrill Management Ltd., said: "During Q2 2016 we have improved on the record uptime we achieved in Q1, reaching 98% economic utilization, whilst continuing to see our costs reduce quarter over quarter. There continues to be a significant supply overhang and the market conditions remain challenging, however, there is some volume returning to the spot market, although primarily for short term work. Our priorities for the remainder of the year continue to be delivering safe and efficient operations for our customers whilst concluding on our financing plans."

Oil Production was 1 728 000 barrels, and is the largest monthly oil production volume in five years (March 2011). Total gas sales were 9.1 billion Sm3 (GSm3), which is an increase of 0.9 GSM3 from the previous month.

Statoil ASA (OSE:STL, NYSE:STO) and Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (“Petrobras”) (BVMF: PETR4, NYSE:PBR) have agreed that Statoil will acquire Petrobras’ 66% operated interest of the BM-S-8 offshore licence in Brazil’s highly prolific Santos basin. The acquisition includes a substantial part of the Carcará oil discovery, one of the largest discoveries in the world in recent years.

Statoil ASA plans to cut its capital expenditure guidance for 2016 to $12 billion from $13 billion. That includes an exploration guidance reduction to $1.8 billion from $2 billion.

Directors emphasized the need for continuing structural reforms to support a successful transition and improve the efficiency of the economy. They saw merit in continued restraint in wage settlements and further reforms to reinvigorate productivity growth. Aligning public sector pensions with recent private sector reforms and reforms to sickness and disability pensions could increase labor force participation. Directors also saw scope for efficiency gains from reducing tax preferences for owner-occupied housing and relaxing supply restrictions in the housing market.

Last year, Norway’s derived half of its oil and gas revenue from production taxes, 43% from the government’s direct ownership in oil and gas assets, and 7% from dividends paid by Statoil ASA, in which the government has a 67% stake.