What is the Troll field and why was its development significant?

The Troll field is a massive offshore natural gas field located in the North Sea, less than 100 km off the coast of Norway. Discovered in 1979, it is the second-largest gas field in Europe and contains more than half of Norway’s proven natural gas reserves.12

Its development was highly significant for several reasons:

• Energy Infrastructure: The project was one of the world’s largest energy undertakings, with over one-fourth of all Norwegian offshore investment by the mid-1990s directed toward it.1
• Engineering Feat: The Troll A production platform, which was towed into place in 1995, stood nearly 1,550 feet (475 metres) tall with a water displacement of one million tons, making it the tallest concrete structure ever moved.1
• Economic Impact: Following the start of production in 1996, the field’s gas deliveries established Norway as a leading supplier of natural gas to continental Europe and helped make the nation one of the world’s largest gas producers and exporters.12