Gullfaks - the first Norwegian oil field developed and operated by Norwegian companies

摘要

This case study analyses the market for oil-related producer services for the Gullfaks oil field in the Norwegian part of the North Sea. We find that the market is highly concentrated, the Norwegian market share is extensive, and foreign companies service the Norwegian market mainly from their Norwegian subsidiaries. Relational contracts between the oil company and the service suppliers are most common during the operation/production phase and in the non-maritime services sector. We find a negative correlation between Norwegian market share and the extent of relational contracts in the market. Turning to sources of technology, we find that producer services have played a crucial role in the transfer of technology from multinational oil and offshore industries to the Norwegian petroleum sector. The channels of technology diffusion appear to have been agreements of technical assistance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, foreign direct investments and employment of foreign professional staff on a contractual basis. It is, however, more difficult to identify technology diffusion from the Gullfaks field to the economy at large.