Veslefrikk B FPU

Economic reasons. The facility was not a traditional airport but a helideck on the Veslefrikk B Floating Production Unit (FPU). It was closed because the parent oil field had reached the end of its productive life after more than 30 years of operation. The operator, Equinor, and its partners determined it was no longer economically viable to continue production, leading to the full decommissioning of the platform.

The site is empty ocean. Following the production shutdown, the Veslefrikk B platform was disconnected from the seabed and, in late 2022, was towed to the Aker Solutions disposal yard in Stord, Norway, for dismantling and recycling. The physical structure, including the helideck, no longer exists at the specified coordinates.

The helideck was a critical piece of infrastructure for the Veslefrikk oil field, which holds historical significance as the first development on the Norwegian continental shelf to utilize a floating production unit. From its startup in 1989, the helideck on Veslefrikk B served as the primary point of access for personnel. It handled thousands of helicopter flights over three decades, facilitating crew changes, transporting technical staff and VIPs, and enabling medical evacuations. It was an essential lifeline connecting the offshore platform to onshore logistics bases like Bergen (Flesland) and Florø, ensuring the safe and continuous operation of a pioneering offshore project.

None. The helideck was an integral part of a mobile offshore platform that has been permanently removed and dismantled. The associated oil field is fully decommissioned, so there is no reason or possibility for the facility to be rebuilt or reopened at this location.