The Improved Recovery Award
Oil recovery factor is the percentage of oil that can be recovered from a reservoir and if this can be increased by just a few percentage points, this would represent a considerable value.
The Improved Recovery Award is in recognition of efforts to improve recovery on the Norwegian continental shelf.
The Improved Recovery Award is awarded by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate to production licenses, companies, projects or individuals for their commitment to improved recovery.
The award is a prize for creativity, persistence and appetite for risk with regards to utilizing methods and technology to increase recovery beyond what can be expected based on existing plans and methods.
The Improved Recovery Award was first awarded in 1998. It was not presented in 2002 and 2008, as no worthy winners were found. Since 2012, the The Improved Recovery Award has been awarded in conjunction with Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) conference.
The Improved Recovery Award is replacing what was formerly known as the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate’s IOR award.
2024
Winner: This year’s Improved Recovery Award goes to the licensees on the Valhall and Hod fields in the North Sea. These fields have produced almost four times more oil and gas than the estimates in the development plans . The prize goes to Aker BP and Pandion Energy. Read news item
2022
Winner: The licensees on the Statfjord field in the North Sea for utilising a number of IOR measures that contribute to the world-class recovery rate. Read news item and see presentation (PowerPoint)
2020
Winner: Researcher Geir Evensen (ensemble based methods). Read news item.
Finalist: The oil and gas company Lundin Energy Norway (formation testing and IOR on the Edvard Grieg field). Read news item and see presentation (pdf) (in Norwegian)
Finalist: Licensees on the Grane field (IOR measures and recovery strategy). Read news item and see presentation (pdf)
2018
Winner: Licensees for the Alvheim field in the North Sea (IOR measures and recovery strategy). Read news item and see presentation (pdf)
Finalist: Technology company Resman (tracer technology). Read news item and see presentation (pdf)
Finalist: Professor Svein Magne Skjæveland (excellent research). Read news item and see presentasjon (pdf)
2016
Åsgard licensees (subsea wet gas compressor)
2014
Martin Landrø, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology (4D seismic)
2012
Statoil (Oseberg gas injection)
2010
Tor Austad (UiS) and Corec (IRIS) (IOR research, chalk fields)
2009
FMC (subsea technology)
2007
Talisman (investments in mature and marginal fields)
2006
Halliburton and Baker Hughes (progressive development and application of advanced drilling and well solutions)
2005
Arne Skauge, CIPR (IOR research)
2004
Statoil and Gullfaks licensees (long term work on improved oil recovery)
2003
BP and Valhall license (Life of field seismic)
2001
Norne-lisensen og Egil Sunde, Statoil (MEOR – Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery)
2000
Phillips Petroleum Company (Ekofisk water injection)
1999
Saga Petroleum (FAWAG – Foam Assisted Water Alternating Gas injection)
1998
Norsk Hydro and Troll license (Troll oil recovery)
Updated: 27/08/2024