Hectic preparations to bring Statoil's Åsgard development on stream are being supported by a large fleet of vessels.
"Total activity by ships and rigs has been particularly high over the past six months," reports Johan Haave, drilling and well operations manager for the Norwegian Sea field.
"We've had 30-odd vessels working simultaneously at times. I don't think similar numbers have ever previously been recorded on any Statoil-operated field."
Four mobile rigs are engaged in drilling and completing wells on the three sub-fields - Midgard, Smørbukk and Smørbukk South.
In addition come standby, pipelaying, trenching and gravel-depositing ships. Other units have been involved in installing subsea templates.
"All these operations must be coordinated, and that hasn't been an easy job," says Mr Haave. "But we're on schedule, so subsea activities can be run down as planned before winter sets in."
Work on drilling and completing wells will continue, with Åsgard due to start producing oil next February.