Wintershall has handed in its plan for developing the North Sea Nova field at a cost of £900million.
Nova will be developed as a subsea tie-back to the nearby Gjøa platform for processing and export.
Gjøawill also provide lift gas to the field and water injection for pressure support. Power for the Nova field comes via the Gjøa platform from shore.
The field is thought to be capable of producing 80million barrels of oil.
First oil is expected in 2021.
Wintershall director Martin Bachmann said: “This is another proud day for Wintershall Norge. With the Nova investment decision, we demonstrate our commitment to Norway.
“Nova is an important landmark showing that we are prepared to take promising Norwegian assets through the whole lifecycle from discovery to development and into production.
“We believe in Norway and we continue to invest in high quality projects that will return value to us, our partners, our
shareholders and the whole of Norwegian society.”
Nova was discovered in 2012 and is situated in the northeastern North Sea about 20 kilometers south-west of the Neptune-operated Gjøa platform and about 120 kilometers northwest of Bergen.
Wintershall owns 35% of Nova, Capricorn Norge has 20%, Spirit Energy 20%, Edison Norge 15% and DEA Norge 10%.