A cut of roughly 15 per cent by 2010 has been set as Statoil's new target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from its operations.
Measured against the level which would be reached if no special measures are taken, this figure compares with an earlier goal of 30 per cent.
"We had very high ambitions when that target was set in 1997," comments environment vice president Knut Barland. "New knowledge has shown that the effect of innovative technology is lower than expected."
But setting an ambitious objective has been important in boosting the level of expertise in this area, he adds.
"Increased knowledge means that we can now put a figure on future cuts. That makes our performance more measurable, both in-house and externally."
Energy saving and an end to permanently-lit flares will provide major emission reductions, Mr Barland emphasises.
In addition, the group plans to make existing technology more efficient, and detailed reviews of production processes both offshore and on land are under way.
International operations are also expected to account for a large proportion of the planned carbon dioxide emission cuts in Statoil.
Mr Barland notes that construction of new gas pipelines in Angola and Azerbaijan is set to play a part here.
He adds that the group will naturally contribute to reaching national climate goals, and to establishing a sustainable norm for resource management and greenhouse gas emissions in countries without such targets.
The Miljøsok collaboration between Norway's oil industry and the government, which focuses on ways of meeting offshore environmental challenges, is also planning to adopt a new emission objective this summer.