Varg Platform

Economic reasons. The Varg oil field, which the platform served, ceased production due to declining profitability and low oil prices. This led to the full decommissioning of the field and the removal of the 'Petrojarl Varg' FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) unit on which the helideck was located.

The site at the specified coordinates is now open sea. The 'Petrojarl Varg' FPSO, which housed the helideck, was disconnected and sailed away from the field in August 2016. The subsequent decommissioning project involved the removal of all subsea installations, which was completed in the following years. The physical infrastructure associated with the helideck no longer exists at this location.

The 'airport' was not a traditional airport but a helideck (ICAO: NO-0124) located on the 'Petrojarl Varg' FPSO. This vessel served the Varg oil field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea from its production start in 1998 until its closure in 2016. The helideck was a critical piece of infrastructure for the platform's operations. Its primary function was logistical support, facilitating regular crew changes for personnel working offshore. It also handled the transport of light, time-sensitive cargo and was essential for safety, enabling rapid medical evacuations (medevac) to onshore medical facilities. The helideck connected the remote offshore installation with onshore heliports, typically in Stavanger or Bergen, via helicopters operated by companies like CHC Helikopter Service or Bristow Norway.

There are zero prospects for reopening this specific helideck. The Varg oil field has been fully decommissioned, and its parent vessel has been permanently removed. While a new project, the 'Varg Field Redevelopment' by Vår Energi, aims to extract remaining reserves, it will do so by tying the field back to the existing, nearby Draupner platform. This redevelopment will not involve a new platform or the return of the 'Petrojarl Varg' to the original location, meaning the helideck NO-0124 will not be reinstated.