Norway oil service workers end strike, industry group says
Resolution of the Norway Oil Service Labour Dispute
Background of the Dispute
OSLO, July 14 (Reuters) - Norway's Safe union and employers have agreed to end a labour dispute in the oil service industry which had disrupted offshore drilling operations and reduced the country's petroleum production, industry group Offshore Norway said on Tuesday.
The Safe union launched its strike action on June 15 after wage talks broke down, while employers later responded by announcing a lockout from June 27, affecting close to 2,000 employees.
Statements from Key Stakeholders
"Work will resume as soon as practically possible," Offshore Norway's chief negotiator Elisabeth Bratteboe Fenne said in a statement.
The two sides will now submit to a voluntary arbitration, Offshore Norway added.
Impact on Oil Service Companies
The dispute affected oil service companies including SLB, Halliburton, Subsea 7, DOF Subsea, Weatherford, DeepOcean and Baker Hughes.
Effects on Petroleum Production
By July 9, the labour dispute had reduced Norway's petroleum output by a cumulative 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), Offshore Norway said at the time, equal to more than half a day's total production.
Norway, Europe's largest supplier of pipeline gas, produced more than 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in 2025.
Had it continued, the dispute could have reduced Norway's petroleum output by about 120,000 boed by mid-July, up from an initial impact of around 12,000 boed, Offshore Norway had warned.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Essi Lehto)