Statoil has started mobilising its staff of up to 2,400 people who will eventually start-up the Johan Sverdrup field.
The first 150 workers will sail out later today from Mekjarvik near Stavanger on the floating accommodation vessel Safe Zephryuss.
The flotel is set to arrive at the Johan Sverdrup field later today.
Johan Sverdrup is among the five largest fields on the Norwegian continental shelf, with up to 3.1billion barrels of oil equivalent recoverable.
It is expected to be in production for more than 50 years.
Once the Safe Xephyuss arrives, work will begin to finalise the riser platform – the first topside installed on the field.
The crew will then begin hook-up preparations for the drilling platform which will arrive in early June.
Trond Bokn, senior vice president for Johan Sverdrup, said: “This is a big day for Statoil and the Johan Sverdrup partnership.
“Today we’re sending the first group of people offshore to start the important work of hooking-up the growing Johan Sverdrup field centre and preparing for production start-up late next year.”