Rystad Energy announces winners for Gullkronen 2026

Celebrating excellence, innovation and outstanding value creation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf

Oslo, Norway (23 April 2026) – Rystad Energy tonight presented the Gullkronen 2026 Awards at Victoria Hotel, Bankettsalen, Stavanger, honouring the companies and teams that delivered the most outstanding performance across Norway's upstream oil and gas sector during 2025. The awards recognise exceptional value creation, resource growth, cost and time effectiveness, and innovation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

Explorer of the Year  |  AkerBP

AkerBP claimed the Explorer of the Year award for a standout exploration campaign that placed the company at the forefront of NCS discovery activity in 2025. AkerBP participated in the three largest discoveries of the year and served as operator for Omega Alfa - Norway's largest discovery in a decade. The company also drilled the longest exploration wellbore in NCS history, demonstrating both technical ambition and operational excellence in its exploration program.

Business Developer of the Year  |  DNO

DNO was recognised as Business Developer of the Year for its transformational acquisition of Sval Energi from HitecVision - the largest transaction on the NCS in 2025. The deal derisked DNO's existing portfolio, quadrupled its production base, and meaningfully strengthened the company's cash flow, financing position, and share performance. The committee viewed the transaction as a decisive and well-executed strategic move that substantially reshaped DNO's standing on the shelf.

New Technology and Innovator of the Year  |  AkerBP

AkerBP also took home the New Technology and Innovator of the Year award, recognized for its deployment of artificial intelligence and robotics on the Yggdrasil development to enable autonomous and unmanned operations. Rather than a standalone pilot, this approach has been embedded as a cornerstone of AkerBP's broader operating strategy across its portfolio - a commitment to digitalisation that sets a new benchmark for the NCS.

Field Operator of the Year  |  Shared: Equinor (Johan Sverdrup) & Vår Energi (Goliat)

In a rare, shared award, the Field Operator of the Year prize was presented jointly to Equinor for Johan Sverdrup and Vår Energi for Goliat.

Equinor/Johan Sverdrup: Equinor outperformed production expectations at Johan Sverdrup, successfully accelerating additional volumes and extending the field's high plateau. The result underscores the value of disciplined reservoir management and continuous operational improvement at one of Europe's most significant producing assets.

 Vår Energi/Goliat: Vår Energi transformed Goliat into a compelling comeback story. By increasing reserves and overcoming the significant logistical and operational challenges of isolated Barents Sea operations, the team demonstrated resilience and strategic capability that revitalised the asset's long-term outlook.

Project Developer of the Year  |  Shell

Shell was awarded Project Developer of the Year for the successful delivery of subsea compression at Ormen Lange; a world-first achievement in subsea compression technology. The project sets new standards for gas recovery from mature fields and demonstrates the potential to extend field life and improve resource efficiency. As a supplier of gas to Europe, the project also carries strategic energy security significance beyond its technical merits.

About Gullkronen 2026

Returning after a hiatus, Gullkronen 2026 celebrated excellence, innovation and value creation across Norway’s upstream oil and gas sector.

The awards recognized companies and teams that delivered outstanding results on the Norwegian Continental Shelf throughout 2025. Winners were selected across five categories, based on performance, strategic impact and contribution to the industry.

The 2026 awards were presented at Victoria Hotel in Stavanger on 23 April 2026.

The award categories were:

• Explorer of the Year

• Business Developer of the Year

• Project Developer of the Year

• Field Operator of the Year

• New Technology and Innovator of the Year